Biomaterial Database

Indications and surgical techniques for digit replantation. 2001

F T Kaplan, and K B Raskin

NYU-Hospital for Joint Diseases, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, New York, New York, USA.

Finger amputations are devastating, life-changing injuries. They can occur from many different types of injury, but most often are caused by power tools or machinery in the workplace. Modern microvascular surgical techniques have enabled surgeons to successfully reattach fingers that have been amputated at almost level of injury. Patient outcome and digit viability have improved as surgeons have gained more experience with microvascular techniques, and have narrowed the operative indications for replantation. Currently, replantation is recommended for amputated thumbs, multiple digit amputations, and single digit amputations distal to the FDS insertion, as well as all amputations in children. Replantation surgery is technically demanding. Success relies on patient selection, meticulous operative technique, and postoperative monitoring. Most patients have successful outcomes with at least protective sensation and useful range of motion in the replanted digit. Though complications, including joint stiffness, tendon adhesions, malunion, and cold intolerance are not infrequent, patient satisfaction following replantation is high.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D008866	Microsurgery	The performance of surgical procedures with the aid of a microscope.
D011183	Postoperative Complications	Pathologic processes that affect patients after a surgical procedure. They may or may not be related to the disease for which the surgery was done, and they may or may not be direct results of the surgery.	Complication, Postoperative,Complications, Postoperative,Postoperative Complication
D012092	Replantation	Restoration of an organ or other structure to its original site.	Reimplantation,Surgical Replantation,Replantation, Surgical,Reimplantations,Replantations,Replantations, Surgical,Surgical Replantations
D005383	Finger Injuries	General or unspecified injuries involving the fingers.	Injuries, Finger,Finger Injury,Injury, Finger
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000673	Amputation, Traumatic	Loss of a limb or other bodily appendage by accidental injury.	Amputations, Traumatic,Traumatic Amputation,Traumatic Amputations
D013536	Suture Techniques	Techniques for securing together the edges of a wound, with loops of thread or similar materials (SUTURES).	Suture Technics,Suture Technic,Suture Technique,Technic, Suture,Technics, Suture,Technique, Suture,Techniques, Suture
D014656	Vascular Surgical Procedures	Operative procedures for the treatment of vascular disorders.	Vascular Surgery,Procedure, Vascular Surgical,Procedures, Vascular Surgical,Surgical Procedure, Vascular,Surgical Procedures, Vascular,Vascular Surgical Procedure,Surgeries, Vascular,Surgery, Vascular,Vascular Surgeries
D016059	Range of Motion, Articular	The distance and direction to which a bone joint can be extended. Range of motion is a function of the condition of the joints, muscles, and connective tissues involved. Joint flexibility can be improved through appropriate MUSCLE STRETCHING EXERCISES.	Passive Range of Motion,Joint Flexibility,Joint Range of Motion,Range of Motion,Flexibility, Joint
D016896	Treatment Outcome	Evaluation undertaken to assess the results or consequences of management and procedures used in combating disease in order to determine the efficacy, effectiveness, safety, and practicability of these interventions in individual cases or series.	Rehabilitation Outcome,Treatment Effectiveness,Clinical Effectiveness,Clinical Efficacy,Patient-Relevant Outcome,Treatment Efficacy,Effectiveness, Clinical,Effectiveness, Treatment,Efficacy, Clinical,Efficacy, Treatment,Outcome, Patient-Relevant,Outcome, Rehabilitation,Outcome, Treatment,Outcomes, Patient-Relevant,Patient Relevant Outcome,Patient-Relevant Outcomes