Sensitivity following volar V-Y plasty for fingertip amputations

The volar V-Y plasty is a well accepted method of management for transverse fingertip amputations. It has been suggested by some authors and assumed by some surgeons that fingertip sensation is nearly normal following the procedure. Sixteen patients with twenty fingertip injuries in our series reported an average estimate of sensitivity of 73% of normal. There was diminished sensation to testing by two-point discrimination and/or von Frey monofilament testing in all fingertips when compared to the contralateral digit. Eight patients (twelve fingertips) reported hypersensitivity, particularly cryalgia. We conclude that sensation is not normal in almost all fingertips treated by V-Y plasty for transverse amputations.