Fingertip Amputations & Finger Flaps - Hand (2024)

FAQs

Is an amputated fingertip a disability? ›

A traumatic amputation is the loss of a body part—usually a finger, toe, arm, or leg—that occurs as the result of an accident or trauma. An amputation is considered a disabling condition by the Social Security Administration (SSA) and may qualify you for SSD benefits.

Most wounds will heal within 2-4 weeks. The time that these take to heal depends on the size of the affected area.

The mean follow-up of our study was 26.8 months (range, 18–66 months). We classified the results based on the FIOS. A value of 12 or more is considered excellent; 13–18 is good; 19–24 is fair; and greater than 24 is poor.

After thoroughly cleaning and preparing an amputated fingertip, the surgeon may reattach it to the finger. The fingertip may continue to grow relatively normally, even if bone was exposed. This is especially possible in children younger than 2 years of age.

Thousands of people suffer from devastating hand injuries every year, often leading to fingertip amputations. It is estimated that as many as 45,000 finger amputations are performed in the US per year with an incidence rate of 7.5/100,000 people [1,2].

Type I-loss of only the pulp of the finger; 2. type II, pulp and nail loss without bone fragment in the distal amputated fingertip; 3. type III, partial loss of the distal phalanx plus corresponding loss of the pulp and nail; 4. type IV, loss proximal to the germinal matrix.

Nerves: Sensory nerves in the fingertip are very small and are usually too small to repair surgically. Numbness, tingling, and hypersensitivity are common after a fingertip injury. In most patients, however, the nerve endings regenerate and the sensation improves gradually over time.

When a kid lops off a fingertip with a cleaver or car door, there's a chance the end of the digit will grow back. The fingerprint will be gone, and the tip may look a bit strange. But the flesh, bone and nail could return.

Emotional Recovery

Losing an arm, hand, finger or other body part can be traumatizing and may change your life drastically. It can be hard to accept these changes, which is why visiting a counselor, talking to your doctor, or communicating with other amputees can be important to a full recovery after an amputation.

What is the least important finger to lose? ›

To summarize: the first finger on the hand you don't use for writing is the least important finger, and the fourth toe on the foot you don't use to kick a soccer ball is probably your least important toe.

"I would bet you there are hundreds of those for every amputated tip," he said. The researchers found that the index and middle fingers were the most likely to be injured, and that more than half of the injuries occurred at home.

Many amputees are able to regain lost mobility with the help of prosthetics and other assistive devices, allowing them to perform some kind of employment. The only way to collect Social Security disability benefits for amputation is if the condition makes it impossible for the amputee to earn a regular income.

Type I-loss of only the pulp of the finger; 2. type II, pulp and nail loss without bone fragment in the distal amputated fingertip; 3. type III, partial loss of the distal phalanx plus corresponding loss of the pulp and nail; 4. type IV, loss proximal to the germinal matrix.

The loss of a little or fourth finger shall be considered a five percent disability. The loss of ring or third finger (one phalanx) shall be considered a three percent disability.

Fine motor disability is an inability or impairment of an individual to perform tasks that require a degree of manual dexterity. Fine motor ability is usually synonymous within the literature concerning the ability of an individual to make precise, voluntary, and coordinated movements with their hands.