The recovery of sensation and function after cross-finger flaps for fingertip injury.

Over a five-year period, 54 patients had cross-finger flaps at Mount Vernon Hospital for single fingertip injuries. A retrospective study was carried out to evaluate the recovery of sensation and function. 92% of the patients were satisfied with the result although 53% suffered cold sensitivity. All the cross-finger flaps tested had diminished sweating and a raised threshold for electrical stimulation. Despite the presence of protective sensation, dynamic sensory discrimination and the return of advanced A beta fibre innervation, none of the cross-finger flaps was found to have recovered tactile gnosis.