Biomaterial Database

Human pneumatic tourniquet paralysis. 1978

C F Bolton, and R M McFarlane

A 47-year-old woman experienced loss of strength, sensation, and sweating distal to a pneumatic tourniquet applied to her upper arm during operation for a Dupuytren contracture. Electrophysiologic tests showed a severe conduction block of sensory and motor fibers, well localized to the presumed lower margin of the tourniquet, with little evidence of axonal degeneration. Reversal of block began at 5 weeks and was complete in 6 months, coincident with almost full clinical recovery. Sweating was absent before 5 weeks and then returned, accompanied by a causalgic syndrome that did not disappear until recovery from the electrophysiologic block. The findings in this case correspond closely to pneumatic tourniquet paralysis in baboons, the pathophysiology having been recently defined. The relationship of autonomic changes to the electrophysiologic block suggest a mechanism for this patient's causalgia.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D008875	Middle Aged	An adult aged 45 - 64 years.	Middle Age
D009408	Nerve Compression Syndromes	Mechanical compression of nerves or nerve roots from internal or external causes. These may result in a conduction block to nerve impulses (due to MYELIN SHEATH dysfunction) or axonal loss. The nerve and nerve sheath injuries may be caused by ISCHEMIA; INFLAMMATION; or a direct mechanical effect.	Entrapment Neuropathies,Nerve Entrapments,External Nerve Compression Syndromes,Internal Nerve Compression Syndromes,Nerve Compression Syndromes, External,Nerve Compression Syndromes, Internal,Compression Syndrome, Nerve,Compression Syndromes, Nerve,Entrapment, Nerve,Entrapments, Nerve,Nerve Compression Syndrome,Nerve Entrapment,Neuropathies, Entrapment,Neuropathy, Entrapment,Syndrome, Nerve Compression,Syndromes, Nerve Compression
D009431	Neural Conduction	The propagation of the NERVE IMPULSE along the nerve away from the site of an excitation stimulus.	Nerve Conduction,Conduction, Nerve,Conduction, Neural,Conductions, Nerve,Conductions, Neural,Nerve Conductions,Neural Conductions
D010243	Paralysis	A general term most often used to describe severe or complete loss of muscle strength due to motor system disease from the level of the cerebral cortex to the muscle fiber. This term may also occasionally refer to a loss of sensory function. (From Adams et al., Principles of Neurology, 6th ed, p45)	Palsy,Plegia,Todd Paralysis,Todd's Paralysis,Palsies,Paralyses,Paralysis, Todd,Paralysis, Todd's,Plegias,Todds Paralysis
D011183	Postoperative Complications	Pathologic processes that affect patients after a surgical procedure. They may or may not be related to the disease for which the surgery was done, and they may or may not be direct results of the surgery.	Complication, Postoperative,Complications, Postoperative,Postoperative Complication
D011312	Pressure	A type of stress exerted uniformly in all directions. Its measure is the force exerted per unit area. (McGraw-Hill Dictionary of Scientific and Technical Terms, 6th ed)	Pressures
D002422	Causalgia	A complex regional pain syndrome characterized by burning pain and marked sensitivity to touch (HYPERESTHESIA) in the distribution of an injured peripheral nerve. Autonomic dysfunction in the form of sudomotor (i.e., sympathetic innervation to sweat glands), vasomotor, and trophic skin changes may also occur. (Adams et al., Principles of Neurology, 6th ed, p1359)	Complex Regional Pain Syndrome Type II,CRPS Type II,Causalgia Syndrome,Deafferentation Pain,Type II Complex Regional Pain Syndrome,Causalgia Syndromes,Pain, Deafferentation,Syndrome, Causalgia,Syndromes, Causalgia
D005260	Female		Females
D005542	Forearm	Part of the upper extremity in humans and primates extending from the ELBOW to the WRIST.	Antebrachium,Antebrachiums,Forearms
D006225	Hand	The distal part of the arm beyond the wrist in humans and primates, that includes the palm, fingers, and thumb.	Hands