Sensory recovery and Meissner corpuscle number after toe-to-hand transplantation

This study investigated the possible relationship between sensory recovery and receptor number after toe-to-hand transplantation. Moving two-point dis crimination was measured after a course of sensory re-education. Meissner c orpuscle number was then quantified by light microscopic examination of mul tiple sections of glabrous skin obtained at pulp reduction and from site-ma tched normal toe and fingertip skin. Meissner corpuscle number per millimet er was 0.94 in normal toe skin (n = 4), and 0.37 after toe-to-hand transpla ntation (n = 34). A significant correlation existed between moving two-poin t discrimination and Meissner corpuscle number (r = -0.62; p < 0.001). No s ignificant relationship was found between moving two-point discrimination a nd patient age or interval from injury to reconstruction. The results sugge st that despite sensory re-education, there may be a level of receptor rein nervation below which good sensory recovery may not be obtained.