Digital Neurorrhaphy after the Age of 60 Years

Keith A. Segalman; Paul A. Cook; Bernadette H. Wang; Lorie Theisen

doi:10.1055/s-2001-12695

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J Reconstr Microsurg 2001; 17(2): 085-088
DOI: 10.1055/s-2001-12695

Digital Neurorrhaphy after the Age of 60 Years

Keith A. Segalman, Paul A. Cook, Bernadette H. Wang, Lorie Theisen

Raymond M. Curtis National Hand Center, Union Memorial Hospital, Lutherville, Maryland

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Publication Date:
31 December 2001 (online)

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ABSTRACT

Fifteen patients over the age of 60 years (average age: 65 years), with 19 digital nerve lacerations, were evaluated more than 1 year after injury. Two-point discrimination, Semmes-Weinstein evaluation, and subjective return of sensibility were examined by a certified hand therapist before and after local anesthetic block of the uninjured digital nerve. Sixty-three percent of the patients regained moving two-point discrimination less than 15 mm; 100 percent regained Semmes-Weinstein values of less than 4.56; and 84 percent of the patients subjectively noted greater than half of their normal sensation. Crossover innervation was a factor in four of 14 repairs. Based on the data, useful sensation can be regained by repairing a digital nerve in the majority of patients older than 60 years of age.

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