title: Replantation of completely amputated thumbs with venous arterialization.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To report a new method of replanting completely amputated thumbs with venous arterialization.
  
  
  METHODS
  In 6 replantation surgeries of completely amputated thumbs performed during the period 1999-2003, the proximal artery was anastomosed with a vein of the amputated part to establish inflow and the proximal vein was anastomosed with several other veins in the amputated part to establish outflow. This was because the proper palmar digital arteries were seriously injured or anastomosis of proper palmar digital arteries failed many times.
  
  
  RESULTS
  All the replanted thumbs survived, regained good sensory and motor functions, and showed no difference from thumbs replanted conventionally.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Venous arterialization may salvage otherwise unreplantable thumbs.
authors.affiliation: Department of Hand Surgery, Shengjing Hospital, China Medical University, Shenyang, China. tianlijie_sy@sina.com
authors.forename: Lijie
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Tian
authors.forename: Furong
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Tian
authors.forename: Feng
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Tian
authors.forename: Xiaochuan
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Xianglu
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Ji
authors.forename: Jiao
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wei
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000673:Amputation, Traumatic / Q000601:surgery; D000714:Anastomosis, Surgical; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006085:Graft Survival; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012092:Replantation / Q000379:methods*; D016879:Salvage Therapy / Q000379:methods; D013933:Thumb / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000293:injuries / Q000601:surgery*; D014680:Veins / Q000601:surgery*