Approach to Fingertip Injuries

Clin Plast Surg. 2019 Jul;46(3):275-283. doi: 10.1016/j.cps.2019.02.001. Epub 2019 Apr 16.

Abstract

The fingertip is mankind's tactile interface with the physical world, from reading braille, to using touchscreens, to wielding power tools. Its special tissue architecture demands astute evaluation and meticulous surgical or nonsurgical care after injury to return patients to their preinjury level of function. Attentive deliberation of physiologic, vocational, and psychosocial factors could improve the odds of achieving satisfactory results. In this article, we explore these aspects of fingertip injury to provoke readers to examine their practices and philosophies.

Keywords: Closed injuries; Fingertip amputation; Fingertip injuries; Nail bed injuries; Psychosocial factors.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Amputation, Traumatic / surgery
  • Finger Injuries / physiopathology
  • Finger Injuries / surgery*
  • Fingers / surgery
  • Humans
  • Nails / injuries*
  • Nails / surgery
  • Plastic Surgery Procedures / methods*
  • Surgical Flaps
  • Wound Healing