Laser Doppler Imaging of Finger Skin Blood Flow in Patients after Microvascular Repair of the Ulnar Artery at the Wrist

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Abstract
Laser Doppler imaging is a new, non-invasive technique allowing the spatial distribution and the temporal variation of the skin blood flow to be monitored. A mean blood flow value over an area, such as the finger-tip in the present study, can also be calculated. Recordings from 12 patients with a sutured ulnar artery following trauma did not significantly differ from those obtained in 14 controls. Four patients with a ligated ulnar artery, however, showed a slower restitution of blood flow values after cold provocation. All sutured ulnar arteries were found to be patent, which confirms that microvascular reconstruction of an injury to the ulnar artery at the wrist is worthwhile.