- A dictionary of medical eponyms

Volkmann's contracture

Related people

Ischemic muscle contracture (flexion contracture) due to external pressure causing irreversible necrosis of muscle tissue, usually seen in the hand and resulting in claw hand. It is most frequently observed in children. Other symptoms include burning pain, weakness or paralysis in hand and forearm. It usually results from impaired circulation following an elbow injury or improper application of a tourniquet.

    "For years I have called attention to the fact that the pareses and contractures of limbs following application of tight bandages are caused not by pressure paralysis of nerves, as formerly assumed, but by the rapid and massive deterioration of contractile substance and by…reactive and regenerative processes."
    Die ischämischen Muskellähmungen und -kontracturen.

Bibliography

  • R. Volkmann:
    Krankheiten der Bewegungsorgane. In: Pitha-Billroth, publishers: Handbuch der allgemeinen und speciellen Chirurgie, volume 2: 845-920. Erlangen, 1869. Die ischämischen Muskellähmungen und Kontracturen.
    Centralblatt für Chirurgie, Leipzig, 1881, 8: 801-803.

What is an eponym?

An eponym is a word derived from the name of a person, whether real or fictional. A medical eponym is thus any word related to medicine, whose name is derived from a person.

What is Whonamedit?

Whonamedit.com is a biographical dictionary of medical eponyms. It is our ambition to present a complete survey of all medical phenomena named for a person, with a biography of that person.

Disclaimer:

Whonamedit? does not give medical advice.
This survey of medical eponyms and the persons behind them is meant as a general interest site only. No information found here must under any circumstances be used for medical purposes, diagnostically, therapeutically or otherwise. If you, or anybody close to you, is affected, or believe to be affected, by any condition mentioned here: see a doctor.