Amputation of the middle ray in the primary treatment of severe injuries of the central hand

Severe injury to the middle finger often compromises both the appearance and function of the hand. This report discusses the use of total middle ray amputation at the time of primary trauma surgery to avoid predictable problems that arise when the ray, or part of it, is retained. Primary ray amputation eliminates the defective middle finger, avoids a gap hand, and reunites the dissociated radial and ulnar segments of the hand to create a useful, three-fingered hand.