Conservative Treatment of Finger Tip Injury. Using PGE1 Ointment (2.MU.g/g) and Covered by Aluminium Foil as Occlusive Dressing.

During the period from January 1996 to October 1998, 40 fingers of 37 cases of finger tip injury were treated conservatively using occlusive dressing. In the earlier half of this period until April 1997, 20 fingers of 19 cases were treated with gentamicin ointment mixed with PGE1 (2μg/g). Their mean age was 45 years (ranging from 2 to 64 years). In the second half, 20 fingers of 18 cases were treated with gentamicin ointment only. Their mean age was 44 years (ranging from 20 to 65 years). In each treatment, we first performed sufficient irrigation, debridement, hemostasis, and resection of any protruded bone. At several days later, we applied the respective ointment and covered this by sterilized aluminium foil as occlusive dressing. Then once a week as required, we reirrigated the wound with osvan and changed the sterilized aluminium foil. The duration until regeneration of new skin in the earlier group with PGE1 ointment was 24.3±11.0 (8-55) days, and that in the late group with gentamicin-only ointment was 25.6±11.2 (11-54) days. There was no significant difference.