Prevention of neuroma in elective digital amputations by utilization of neurovascular island flap

Abstract

Following hand surgery, painful neuromas may impair the quality of the functional result. In planned, elective digital amputation, neuroma formation is quasi-unavoidable because the nerve is cut. Several techniques have been proposed to prevent the formation of neuroma but, in our opinion, the only logical way to avoid it, is not to cut the nerve. For this purpose, we proposed, in cases of planned, elective digital amputation, an intervention inspired by the technique described by Littler in 1956. This technique consists of isolating as an island, the pulp of the amputated finger while preserving nerve continuity of both collateral pedicles. Once the amputation is completed, in cases of distal amputation, the pulp flap is used to cover the proximal stump and, in cases of ray amputation, the nerve loop is buried after its deepithelialization between the adjacent metacarpals. Since 1990, this technique has been used for nine-planned, elective amputations in eight patients. Postoperatively, no patient has developed painful neuroma except one patient who had a painful finger preoperatively and in whom the symptoms remained unchanged postoperatively. This simple technique must be part of the therapeutic armamentarium of planned, elective digital amputations in cases with intact collateral nerves.