The injury resulted from a knife fight approximately one hour prior to presentation. The patient complains of progressive forearm swelling and pain with left hand movement. The pain and swelling started 30 minutes after the injury occurred. The patient is otherwise healthy. There is no family history of bleeding disorders.
Social history includes smoking and occasional alcohol use.
The patient consumed three beers prior to his injury. The vital signs are normal. The physical examination is normal except for left forearm. There is moderate swelling of the volar aspect of the distal forearm. Diffuse tenderness is present with palpation of the left forearm.