Expert: Ronald Levy, M.D. - 4/6/2011

Question
I went to the ER earlier today, I had lacerated my thumb artery and all, they gave me a long lasting anesthetic(I don't know what).  My problem is that was at around 2 am, it is now 11 and it is still as numb as when he started it at 2. Should i be worried. I can kinda feel a bit of pain around the base joint but from there to the tip of my thumb is just gone. I had feeling before they started working on me they pricked my finger so I didn't cut a nerve.

Answer
The two major issues are that there is good bllod supply and the nerve is intact. It is unlikely that the local is still working and if you say you cut the artery, then you likely also cut or injured the nerve which runs right along side. As long as the finger is pink, the blood supply is OK. If the numbmess persists, (and if it is only on the side of the thumb that was injured), you might consider seeing a hand surgeon (not an ER doc) to evaluate if there is nerve damage and if it can be repaired.

Ronald Levy, MD
Professor of Anesthesiology
UTMB-Galveston