Fingertip amputation: review of 100 digits

Evaluation of the functional results and complications of 100 fingertip amputations revealed no difference between the two most commonly used repairs; 52 injuries were treated by primary closure with residual viable skin flaps and 27 by split-thickness skin grafting. No decline in unfavourable functional results was found when patients evaluated 6 weeks after injury were compared to patients evaluated 42 weeks after injury, suggesting that delaying the patient's return to full activity by prolonging rehabilitation is unlikely to yield much improvement. Shortening the nerves in proximal amputations closed by residual flaps did not decrease nerve irritation. Resection of bone produced a mobile amputation-stump tip. While the mean time off work or return to full activity following skin grafting was 6 days less than it was after primary closure, the difference was not significant.