Digital (Finger) Nerve Injury

Digital nerve injuries, or nerve injuries to the finger, most commonly occur after a sharp laceration to the finger. In these scenarios, the laceration can transect the nerve, which results in loss of sensation. In each finger, there are two digital nerves that run on either side of the finger. The diagnosis of a digital nerve injury is based on physical exam and may include evaluation of fine-point or two-point discrimination. A thorough physical exam and evaluation is important in order to diagnose a digital nerve injury and any associated injury to nearby structures such as the flexor tendon or digital artery. Following a digital nerve injury, loss of sensation is typically permanent unless the nerve is repaired. After successful nerve repair, return of sensation may take many months and does not always occur. Generally, the younger and healthier the patient is, the better the prognosis is for return of nerve function and fingertip sensation following nerve repair.