Use of Doppler in the diagnosis of hypothenar hammer syndrome

Hand-arm vibration syndrome (HAVS) includes a spectrum of vascular, neurological and musculoskeletal symptoms resulting from exposure to vibrating tools. Hypothenar hammer syndrome (HHS) is a lesion of the ulnar artery as it courses adjacent to the hamate bone and results from either single or repeated episodes of trauma to the hypothenar eminence. There is a need to distinguish symptoms of HHS from those of classical HAVS since precise diagnosis may alter both the clinical and occupational management of the affected employee.