Finger tip injuries

ABSTRACT

Eighty-eight patients with ninety finger tip injuries were treated free grafts 48 and pedicle flaps 19. The simplest and fastest methods of repair were full thickness and split thickness grafts. The most satisfactory donor area for full thickness grafts was the inner aspect of the arm. In children and women the inguinal region was a more appropriate donor area. The hypothenar area was a very good donor site for split thickness and full thickness grafts. Skin flaps gave the best sensory and cosmetic results. The disadvantages of free grafts were the delay and the deficiency of the sensory return, and those of cross finger flaps were the disfigurement and liability of injury to the extensor tendon of the donor finger. The awkward position of the finger in thenar flaps was a source of discomfort. lnframammary flaps were bulky and disfiguring. Proximal amputation was reserved for manual labourers, especially in the little and ring fingers