title: The incidence of symptomatic neuroma in amputation and neurorrhaphy patients.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The incidence of symptomatic neuroma in finger nerve injuries varies widely in the literature. In this retrospective study, we evaluated the incidence of symptomatic neuroma after repair of digital nerve injuries (neurorrhaphy) and after amputation of one or more fingers. We also determined the need for re-operation on symptomatic neuroma patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  In a retrospective study, we collected data from medical files. All patients who were treated for a hand trauma in the emergency department during the last 10 years were included. We gathered data on the presence of symptomatic neuroma and re-operation of the patients.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In our database, 583 people had a peripheral nerve injury of whom 177 people had an amputation. The incidence of digital nerve injury without amputation followed by neurorrhaphy was 1%. In digital nerve injuries with amputation the incidence was 7.8%, which is significantly higher than after digital nerve injuries without amputation.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  People with an amputation injury have significantly more symptomatic neuroma than people who undergo neurorrhaphy. People who have a symptomatic neuroma after digital nerve injuries have been operated significantly more than people who have a non-symptomatic neuroma or no neuroma at all. This information can be of help when treating digital nerve injuries. TYPE OF STUDY/LEVEL OF EVIDENCE (LOE): Prognostic.
authors.affiliation: Department of Plastic, Reconstructive and Hand Surgery, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands. d.j.vanderavoort@gmail.com
authors.forename: D J J C
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: van der Avoort
authors.forename: S E R
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Hovius
authors.forename: R W
authors.initials: RW
authors.lastname: Selles
authors.forename: J W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: van Neck
authors.forename: J H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Coert
mesh_terms: D000671:Amputation, Surgical; D005260:Female; D005383:Finger Injuries / Q000601:surgery*; D005385:Fingers / Q000294:innervation* / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D009463:Neuroma / Q000453:epidemiology*; D019635:Neurosurgical Procedures / Q000379:methods*; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000453:epidemiology*; D012086:Reoperation; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors
keywords: Amputation; Incidence; Neuroma; Neurorrhaphy