gms | German Medical Science

Study question: Traumatic finger injuries are very common in emergency medicine. When patients present with finger injuries there is often damage to the vascular nerve bundles, which require subsequent reconstruction. It is unknown whether repairing a unilaterally injured artery affects patients' recovery in a well perfused finger.

Methods: This retrospective cohort study compares the clinical outcomes of 11 patients with one-vessel supply and 14 with two-vessel supply. Patient outcomes were assessed using patient questionnaires (DASH, EQ-5D-5L, EQ-VAS), clinical examination of hand function, and imaging of circulatory efficiency.

Results and conclusion: No significant changes were observed in the DASH, EQ-5D-5L, and EQ-VAS questionnaires. Clinical evaluation of hand function, measured by cold sensitivity, two-point discrimination, pain numerical analogue scale, and grip strength also revealed no significant differences between cohorts. Blood flow measurements using thermal imaging revealed no effects on circulation in the affected digit. Collectively, the study finds re-construction is not absolutely necessary when there is one intact finger artery as it is sufficient for healing and functional outcomes. We recommend finger artery reconstruction when both digital arteries are injured or if an immediate tension-free suture is directly possible.