Finger and Hand Amputations

What it is

An amputation is the loss of a body part, either from an injury or from a planned operation to treat disease or improve function. Fingers amputated in an injury can sometimes be urgently reattached (replanted). However, reattachment is not always possible or recommended: a replanted part can be painful, stiff, or numb, and some people function better without it.

Surgery

Planning focuses on making the remaining hand as functional as possible. The wound is usually closed by rearranging nearby skin, which may require shortening the bone. Sometimes tissue from elsewhere is needed, or the finger is shaped to fit a future prosthesis. Cut nerves may need dedicated treatment to prevent pain, and more than one surgery is sometimes needed.

Recovery

Expect pain, swelling, and stiffness for the first few weeks. Longer term, cut nerves can cause electric-type pain, cold sensitivity, or phantom sensations. A painful nerve ending (neuroma) can often be treated with therapy or newer surgical techniques, so tell your surgeon about these symptoms early.

Therapy and prosthetics

Hand therapy restores motion and strength and reduces pain and sensitivity. Moving the uninjured fingers and wrist as much as possible helps prevent stiffness, and the home exercises matter as much as the therapy visits. Silicone sleeves can protect sensitive areas.

A prosthesis can restore length to a finger, enable pinch, or help hold objects. Options include custom silicone fingers matched to your skin tone, which can be made about three months after healing and last three to five years; more mechanical fingers with positionable joints; and fingers powered by the motion of the remaining hand. Some people choose not to use one.

Emotional recovery

Losing part of the hand can be upsetting, and adapting takes time. Talking with your surgeon, other patients, or a counselor helps, and the Amputee Coalition is a useful resource. With time, most people find new ways to do their daily activities.