A prospective study of early tactile stimulation after digital nerve repair

Forty-nine patients with 65 digital nerve injuries were randomized into two groups after nerve repair. Group 1 received early tactile stimulation and Group 2 was a control group. The patients were assessed prospectively for 6 months for recovery of functional sensibility. Tactile stimulation in Grou p 1 was provided from 3 weeks after nerve repair with a specially designed rotating tactile stimulator and a pocket tactile stimulator. Constant two-p oint discrimination, moving two-point discrimination, and cutaneous pressur e threshold were measured and sensibility was graded with the Medical Resea rch Council (UK) sensibility grading, At 6 months, 68.8% of patients in Gro up 1 had a Medical Research Council grading of S3+ or S4 sensibility compar ed with 36% in Group 2, With this prospective randomized study, the value o f sensory reeducation in improving sensibility after digital nerve injury w as confirmed, Starting tactile stimulation from the early postoperative per iod is recommended; however, use of the rotating tactile stimulator and poc ket tactile stimulation need additional study.