Digital Nerve Laceration Treatment in New Jersey

Digital nerve laceration involves traumatic damage to the nerves in the fingers (or toes). When one or more digital nerves are partially or completely cut or torn through, patients may experience tingling, numbness, or pain that doesn’t resolve over time.

If you have sustained a cut, laceration, or other traumatic injury to your hand or foot and are experiencing pain, reduced sensation, or unusual sensations in one or more fingers or toes, a digital nerve injury may be the cause. Below, we’ve provided an overview of the symptoms, diagnosis, treatment options, recovery, and prognosis for this type of injury:

Understanding Digital Nerve Laceration

Sensation in the fingertips is one of the primary ways in which humans interact with and make sense of the world. Our digital nerves are responsible for communicating information to our brain about what we are touching—its texture, temperature, moisture level, and more. Life without some of this information can feel oddly disorienting.

Definition and Anatomy

Digital nerve injuries can involve any of the digital nerves that run up either side of the fingers and thumb on the palm side of the hand. Depending on the mechanism of injury, the nerves may simply be bruised (in which case they usually heal on their own over time) or may be partially or completely severed.

Nerves are made up of two parts: A protective sheath (the epineurium) and the nerve fibers inside. If the epineurium alone is damaged, digital nerve function may be easier to restore. Digital nerve fibers that have been completely cut present a greater challenge and usually involve a longer road to recovery.

Causes and Symptoms

Digital nerve injuries are usually caused by traumatic injuries that involve deep cuts or lacerations to the fingers or hand. This type of injury should be suspected if some or all of the following symptoms are present:

• Numbness on one or both sides of the finger or thumb (depending if one or both digital nerves have been damaged)
• Tingling in the finger
• Pain (may be associated with neuroma formation after a digital nerve has been completely severed but not properly repaired)

Diagnosis Process

Digital nerve damage can be diagnosed on the basis of medical history and a physical examination by an orthopedic surgeon. Further diagnostic testing is usually not indicated.

Treatment Approaches

Unfortunately, a fully severed digital nerve cannot heal itself, and the only way to reconnect the nerve fibers is through surgical repair.

Surgical Intervention

Digital nerve repair surgery involves reattaching the severed digital nerve to stimulate growth and promote the fusion of the nerve fibers. In cases where surgery closely follows injury, the likelihood of spontaneous fusion is higher. In cases where the nerve has been severed for some time, a nerve conduit or nerve graft may be necessary.  Surgery is intended to limit the risk of a neuroma (scarred nerve) and give your body a chance to heal.

No matter the approach, digital nerve surgery only involves a small incision and is can be carried out under local anesthesia or general anesthesia.

Recovery and Prognosis

Nerves take much longer to heal than skin or muscles. The incision site usually heals quickly after digital nerve repair surgery, but the healing process for nerve endings may take much longer. Regrowth of nerves, in general, proceeds at 1mm/day meaning that to grow from the cut to your fingertip will often take months.  Your surgeon will be able to provide you with a more accurate time frame based on the specifics of your situation.

Though not all patients will regain full sensation in their finger or thumb after a digital nerve repair, most experience an improvement and a reduction in nerve pain (one of the primary reasons for undergoing the procedure).  Without surgery, cut nerves will likely not provide sensation.

Get in Touch With an Expert

Contact us today for a comprehensive consultation with our specialists to address your concerns about digital nerve laceration. Our award-winning team of orthopedic surgeons is ready to serve you!