Finger amputations and ability to work

Abstract 1. 1. We have presented 130 patients with a total of 163 amputations and investigated the occupational after-history with examination in detail of twenty-nine patients who changed their jobs permanently. 2. 2. The level of amputation did not appear to be critical provided that the stump was covered by adequate soft tissue and was not tender. 3. 3. Limited movements, multiple amputations and delay in amputation were of greater significance than the conventional sites of election. 4. 4. Motivation outweighs disability. We should like to thank our colleagues for permission to examine patients under their care, Mr. Ross for details about his patient, and the Editor of the British Medical Journal for permission to reproduce the radiograph of Mr. Ross's patient.