title: The recovery of sensation and function after cross-finger flaps for fingertip injury.
abstract: Over a five-year period, 54 patients had cross-finger flaps at Mount Vernon Hospital for single fingertip injuries. A retrospective study was carried out to evaluate the recovery of sensation and function. 92% of the patients were satisfied with the result although 53% suffered cold sensitivity. All the cross-finger flaps tested had diminished sweating and a raised threshold for electrical stimulation. Despite the presence of protective sensation, dynamic sensory discrimination and the return of advanced A beta fibre innervation, none of the cross-finger flaps was found to have recovered tactile gnosis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Research in Plastic Surgery, Mount Vernon Hospital, Northwood.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Nishikawa
authors.forename: P J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Smith
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D005383:Finger Injuries / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D005385:Fingers / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012677:Sensation; D012684:Sensory Thresholds; D013524:Surgical Flaps; D013814:Thermal Conductivity; D014110:Touch