Open Treatment of Digital Tip Injuries

Thirty-three patients with 38 digital tip injuries were followed up for an average of eight months. All injuries had no bone exposed at the time of initial consultation and were treated by an open technique allowing secondary wound healing. Stationary two-point discrimination averaged 3.5 mm at follow-up examination. The final appearance of digits treated by this method was considered satisfactory by surgeons and patients alike. Comparison with other methods reconfirms that the open treatment of digital tip injuries in adults, where no bone is exposed, is a reasonable therapeutic alternative. ( JAMA 244:697-698, 1980)