Delayed sensory reeducation after toe-to-hand transfer.

The effect of a delayed program of sensory rehabilitation was evaluated in 13 patients with a total of 22 toe-to-hand transfers. Each patient was begun on a protocol of sensory reeducation at a mean of 38 months (range 13-98 months) after the transfer. Home rehabilitation, employing a Disk-Criminator (TM) program, was monitored at monthly intervals by the therapist for a mean of 3.3 months, at which time a final evaluation of sensibility was done. Each of the 22 toe transfers improved by an average of 7 mm in static and 6 mm in moving two-point discrimination. The improvement in two-point discrimination following delayed implementation of sensory reeducation was statistically significant at the P < 0.0001 level.