Forearm Muscle Necrosis After Radial Artery Harvesting for Coronary Artery Bypass Surgery

Donor site complications after radial artery harvesting for coronary revascularization have been primarily wound related and parasthesias. Forearm muscle compartment syndrome has only been reported once. A patient underwent successful coronary revascularization with a radial artery graft; however his forearm extensor muscles necrosed, possibly from a missed compartment syndrome, and he required tendon transfers to provide finger and wrist extension.