This healthy 47-year-old woman developed sudden purple discoloration and swelling of the volar aspect of the right fourth finger with sparing of the finger tip. She complained of an aching pain for an hour before the color change appeared, and the symptoms resolved without treatment within 24 hours. She had no history of heart disease, hypertension and was on no systemic medications. The nonischemic blue finger was described by Khaira HS et al in Ann R Coll Surg Engl 2001; 83: 154-157. There is usually no history of trauma, most patients are women, the volar aspect of the finger is invariably involved, and the finger tip is spared. Laboratory findings are normal or negative, and the changes could not be attributed to underlying systemic disease. The affected digit returns to normal within 4-7 days and anticoagulation is not required.
Description
purple discoloration of the volar aspect of the right fourth finger with sparing of the finger tip
