title: Clinical assessment of primary digital nerve repair.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Hand Surgery and Microsurgery Clinic, K.A.T. Accident Hospital, Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Efstathopoulos
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Gerostathopoulos
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Misitzis
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Bouchlis
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Anagnostou
authors.forename: N K
authors.initials: NK
authors.lastname: Daoutis
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D005383:Finger Injuries / Q000534:rehabilitation / Q000601:surgery*; D005385:Fingers / Q000294:innervation*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008866:Microsurgery / Q000379:methods*; D008875:Middle Aged; D059348:Peripheral Nerve Injuries; D010525:Peripheral Nerves / Q000601:surgery*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012677:Sensation