Clinical assessment of primary digital nerve repair

We have carried out a retrospective study of 64 primary digital nerve repairs in 50 patients who presented to our department between 1988 and 1993. 45 of the patients were operated on within 6 hours of the injury using microscope (x 14). Normal two-point discrimination was regained in only 9 cases, while 6-10 mm two-point discrimination was achieved in 22, 11-15 mm in 15 and protective sensation in 18. A close correlation between age and recovery of sensation after repair was observed. Microsurgical repair of digital nerve gives satisfactory results, since a normal or good two-point discrimination can be obtained in about half of cases, while sensation improves in the rest. A high rate of complete recovery of sensation, however, is to be expected only in children.