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A 15-year-old female with a history of depression presents to the emergency room after slashing her wrists with a razor

Posted: Thu Jul 07, 2022 1:33 pm
by answerhappygod
A 15-year-old female with a history of depression presents to the emergency room after slashing her wrists with a razor blade. The moderate bleeding from her left wrist was controlled with slight pressure, however, the small spurts of blood coming from the lateral side of her right wrist were more difficult to control. On physical examination, the patient had normal movement and no loss of sensation to her left hand and wrist. Upon examination of the patient's right hand and wrist, the patient is noted to have a laceration to two superficial tendons and a large nerve. The patient is able to adduct her thumb, but unable to oppose it. She has also lost some fine control of movements of her second and third digits on her right hand. The patient admits to experiencing numbness over the lateral half of her right palm and digits.
1. Which tendon(s) is/are most likely involved and which large nerve was cut?
2. What superficial artery has been lacerated?
3. Discuss all of the specific structures affected and the losses of hand/digit function likely to result.