title: Contralateral transplantation of a finger for restoration of thumb function.
abstract: Transplantation of a finger from the contralateral hand for thumb reconstruction is seldom done because of possible psychological problems for the patient. We present two cases in which a previously damaged index finger of the contralateral hand was transplanted. In both patients the metacarpophalangeal joint of the index finger replaced that of the thumb. A powerful pinch to the fingers was achieved and the appearance of both the donor and the recipient hands was considerably improved.
authors.affiliation: Department of Hand, Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Malteser Hospital, Bonn, Germany.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Brüser
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Larkin
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000673:Amputation, Traumatic / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D005385:Fingers / Q000637:transplantation*; D007839:Functional Laterality / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008662:Metacarpophalangeal Joint / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery; D008866:Microsurgery; D008875:Middle Aged; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D011859:Radiography; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular / Q000502:physiology; D013933:Thumb / Q000293:injuries*; D014945:Wound Healing / Q000502:physiology