A young man fell on his outstretched hand, resulting in pain and deformity to the left midshaft forearm. Distal circulation should be assessed at which pulse location?

• A. Popliteal
• B. Pedal
• C. Radial
• D. Brachial

Answer: (C)

When evaluating circulation after a forearm injury, you want a pulse that reflects distal blood flow to the hand. The wrist radial pulse is the best choice because the radial artery runs along the forearm to the hand and directly indicates perfusion of the hand and fingers. A present, strong radial pulse suggests adequate distal circulation; if it’s weak or absent, vascular injury to the forearm is a concern and requires prompt assessment and action. The other locations don’t fit this scenario: the popliteal and pedal pulses assess circulation in the leg and foot, not the hand, and the brachial pulse is proximal to the forearm fracture and doesn’t tell you about distal hand perfusion. In addition to the pulse, check capillary refill, skin color and temperature, and motor/sensory function of the hand.