Abstract: Background: Various treatment modalities are used from the past to treat fingertip injuries. The common methods used are suturing, skin grafting, flap coverage of the wound by different techniques. This study reports the outcome of different treatment methods used in management of fingertip injuries.
Material and Methods: In a prospective study from 15 August 2006 to 31st March 2008 we included 103 patients out of which 10 patient lost in follow-up. Average age of distribution is 39.6 yrs. Patients are divided in to four treatment groups and were followed for 6 months. Assesment of results were done on basis of tip tenderness, Colour of tip with surrounding tissue, stiffness in DIP joint, sensation, aesthetic look.
Results: In our series we found that a total of seventy four patients had good and excellent relief of tip tenderness after 6 month of having the definitive surgery done, a total of sixty nine patients had good and excellent result as far as tip sensation is concerned, of sixty nine patients had good and excellent result as far as tip sensation is concerned, of sixty seven patients had good and excellent result as far as cosmesis is concern after 6 month post operatively.
Conclusion: Conservative management was more successful in paediatric age group than in adult age group. Maximum relief in tip tenderness, Sensation found in homodigital /local flap group. Best result of cosmesis was in grafting group and worst in distant flap group. Thenar flap was useful in middle and index finger.
