title: [A rare nerve variation: duplication of the digital nerves in the index finger].
abstract: We present a 36-year-old male patient who had an anatomic variation in the number of digital nerves in the index finger of the left hand. During flexor tendoplasty for a zone II flexor tendon injury in the index finger, duplication of the radial and ulnar digital nerves was detected at the level of the proximal phalanx, making a total of four digital nerves. Both radial and ulnar digital nerves gave off branches at the level of the metacarpophalangeal joint that ran to the distal index finger. One of digital nerves on the radial side was cut at the level of the proximal phalanx and was treated with neurorrhaphy. Complete sensory recovery in the distal area of the index finger was achieved within a follow-up of six months. Such variations in the digital nerves may lead to insufficient repair if they are gone unnoticed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Istanbul Training and Research Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey. sametkuvat@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Samet Vasfi
authors.initials: SV
authors.lastname: Kuvat
authors.forename: Süleyman Murat
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Tağil
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D004210:Dissection / Q000379:methods; D005385:Fingers / Q000294:innervation* / Q000601:surgery*; D007839:Functional Laterality; D014644:Genetic Variation; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011826:Radial Nerve / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D013708:Tendon Injuries / Q000473:pathology*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014459:Ulnar Nerve / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000473:pathology