Finger injury resulting from pulse oximeter probe during orthognathic surgery.

Pulse oximetry is a useful technique for perioperative monitoring of the surgical patient. The use of the finger clamp design of oximeter probes may cause finger injury in lengthy surgical procedures. A case is presented and discussed with respect to an ischemic finger injury created by an oximeter probe during a hypotensive anesthetic technique. Avoidance of this type of problem includes proper placement of the probe on the finger and changing the probe to a different finger every 3 to 4 hours.