Expanding ulnar artery aneurysm presenting with signs of threatened rupture.

The case of a 25-year-old man admitted with an ulnar artery aneurysm of the wrist is presented. The size of the aneurysm (1.5 x 2.7 cm) and progressive pain gave the impression of a threatened rupture. Radiologic examinations confirmed the existence of a non-thrombosed ulnar artery aneurysm with occlusion of the 4th and 5th digital arteries. During an urgent surgical exploration a pseudo-aneurysm was found and resected and the artery was repaired. Thrombolysis of the digital arteries was performed with a good result. The combination of a large-sized pseudo-aneurysm, lack of a history of penetrating trauma and presentation of threatened rupture are unique and not reported previously in the literature.