title: Fingertip replantations: importance of venous anastomosis and the clinical results.
abstract: Overall survival rate for 143 digits with complete amputation of the distal phalanx was 78%. Replanted digits that underwent venous anastomosis showed a very high survival rate of 93%. Loss of the distal interphalangeal joint function in subzone IV was significantly inferior to that in subzones II and III. Protective sensation was achieved in 96% of replanted digits. Sensory recovery in the absence of nerve repair was significantly worse for avulsion injury than for crush injury. Nail deformity tended to be increased for replanted digits in subzone III or with crush-type injury. Successful venous anastomosis appears to offer the best way to promote survival of replanted digits. If venous anastomosis is infeasible, a replanted digit can survive with any methods for venous drainage in subzones II and III, but does not survive in subzone IV. To minimise nail deformity, repair of the germinal matrix is necessary.
authors: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Komaki City Hospital, Komaki, Aichi, Japan. thasuo@msn.com
authors: Takaaki
authors: T
authors: Hasuo
authors: Genzaburo
authors: G
authors: Nishi
authors: Daiji
authors: D
authors: Tsuchiya
authors: Takanobu
authors: T
authors: Otsuka
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000673:Amputation, Traumatic / Q000601:surgery*; D000714:Anastomosis, Surgical; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D005383:Finger Injuries / Q000601:surgery*; D005385:Fingers / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008866:Microsurgery; D008875:Middle Aged; D009262:Nails / Q000254:growth & development; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular; D012092:Replantation / Q000379:methods*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D015996:Survival Rate; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014656:Vascular Surgical Procedures / Q000379:methods*