Fingertip Amputation eMedicine Procedures

Description: Fingertip injuries are the most common injuries of the hand, and appropriate treatment depends on the type of injury and the involvement of other digits. Fingertip amputation occurs distal to the insertion of flexor or extensor tendons into the distal phalanx. Numerous techniques are available for fingertip amputation, and the primary goal of all these techniques is to achieve a painless digit with preserved sensation at the tip. The appropriate treatment depends on the amount of tissue involved, the involvement of bone (distal phalanx), the angles and levels of amputation, and the involvement of other fingers or the rest of the hand.
Palaniappan Lakshmanan, MBBS, MS, AFRCS, FRCS (Tr & Orth) Updated: Jul 27, 2009