Successful hand replantation in a seafarer after long-distance helicopter evacuation. A case report.
After sustaining a clean-cut mid-carpal hand amputation on a tanker 120 miles north of Lanzarote, a 28- -year-old seafarer was evacuated by helicopter to a microsurgical unit in Gran Canaria. The amputated hand was cooled according to precise instructions. The 6-hour flight time included two refuelling stops and transfer time. The hand had been revascularized thirteen hours after the accident and was still well circulated at repatriation 3 weeks later.
Fernandez-Palacios
Javier
J
Servicio de Cirugía Plástica, Hospital Dr. Negrín, Barranco de la Ballena s/n 35010 Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Canary Islands, Spain. jferpalm@yahoo.es
Duque
Orlando Garcia
OG
Benitez
Ruben Alvarado
RA
Bolanos
Luis Fabelo
LF
Calderin
Jose Guterrez
JG
D000328:Adult; D017732:Air Ambulances; D000673:Amputation, Traumatic / Q000601:surgery*; D006225:Hand / Q000098:blood supply / Q000601:surgery*; D006230:Hand Injuries / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009326:Naval Medicine / Q000379:methods; D012092:Replantation / Q000379:methods*