Four patients with a clinically significant radial artery anomaly

The superficial radial artery is an anatomic variant in which the radial artery passes superficial to the tendons of the anatomic snuffbox. Cadaver studies have shown its incidence to be 0.5% to 1%. Four patients with this anatomic variation were encountered in our practice, and their clinical courses and anatomy are described. One patient presented with digital ischemia after catheter placement in the anomalous radial artery. Three patients with end-stage renal disease were found to have a superficial radial artery incidentally, and this was used for inflow in the creation of hemodialysis fistulas.