Problem based review: the patient presenting with an acutely swollen arm.

ABSTRACT

A 69 year old female presented to the Emergency Department with swelling of her right arm and elbow, one week following a fall which resulted in a fracture of the middle third of her right clavicle (Figure 1). The forearm was hot and tender and the arm and hand function were somewhat impaired by swelling, but sensation was intact. Initial bloods were unremarkable, apart from a mild neutrophilia.