title: Vein grafting in fingertip replantations.
abstract: In this retrospective study, the survival rates of fingertip replantation with and without vein grafting were evaluated along with their postoperative functional and cosmetic results. One hundred twenty-one-fingertip amputations were performed in 103 patients between September 2002 and July 2007. Thirty-four amputated fingertips were replanted without vein grafting, while 87 amputated fingertips were replanted with vein grafting for arterial and/or venous repairs. The overall survival rates of the replantations with and without vein grafting were 90% (78/87) and 85% (29/34), respectively. The survival rates were 88% (36/41) with venous repair, 93% (25/27) with arterial repair, and 89% (17/19) with both. Nineteen patients without vein grafting and 48 patients with vein grafting had a follow-up period of more than one year. Good cosmetic and functional outcomes were observed in both groups of patients. The results show that vein grafting is a reliable technique in fingertip replantations, showing no significant difference (P > 0.05) in survival between those with and without vein grafting. Furthermore, no significant difference (P > 0.05) in survival was found between cases with vein grafts for arterial and/or venous repairs. In fingertip replantations with vein grafting, favorable functional and esthetic results can be achieved without sacrificing replantation survival.
authors.affiliation: Department of Hand Surgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Wenzhou Medical College, Wenzhou, China.
authors.forename: Hede
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Yan
authors.forename: William D
authors.initials: WD
authors.lastname: Jackson
authors.forename: Somjade
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Songcharoen
authors.forename: Ovunc
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Akdemir
authors.forename: Zhijie
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Xinglong
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Liangfu
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Jiang
authors.forename: Weiyang
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Gao
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000673:Amputation, Traumatic / Q000601:surgery*; D000714:Anastomosis, Surgical / Q000379:methods; D001158:Arteries / Q000601:surgery; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D005383:Finger Injuries / Q000601:surgery*; D005385:Fingers / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012092:Replantation / Q000379:methods*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014022:Tissue Survival; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014656:Vascular Surgical Procedures / Q000379:methods; D014680:Veins / Q000601:surgery*; D055815:Young Adult