title: Use of digital subtraction angiography for assessment of digital replantation.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess the blood flow of the proper digital artery using digital subtraction angiography (DSA) in the early stage after replantation.
  
  
  METHODS
  From January 2006 to October 2010, 27 anastomosed arteries in 27 replanted digits were included in the study. The patients included nine males and four females. The patients received DSA at 48 to 96 h after digital replantation. Based on DSA image, the blood flow was classified into normal, slow-running, and flow-stopping types. The patients with normal digital blood flow were given continuous routine treatments; the patients with slow-running flow were given the conservative treatments, such as release of the tight dressings, removal of stitches, keeping warm, the use of massage, and the use of anticoagulants and anti-inflammatory drugs; the patients with flow-stopping received immediate surgical re-exploration.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In this series, 23 digits in 11 patients showed a normal blood flow, and these digits all survived. In one of 13 patients, two digits which displayed slow-running flow also survived after conservative treatments. In two of 13 patients, two digits showed flow stopping, with one surviving and one failing after re-exploration and arterial revision.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The DSA can be used to assess the blood flow of the proper digital artery in the early stage after replantation. It provides essential information for salvaging the replanted finger.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, the Second Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China. wlh20020905@163.com
authors.forename: Liu-Hong
authors.initials: LH
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Guang-Qiang
authors.initials: GQ
authors.lastname: Zhang
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000673:Amputation, Traumatic / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000601:surgery*; D015901:Angiography, Digital Subtraction; D001158:Arteries / Q000503:physiopathology; D001783:Blood Flow Velocity; D005260:Female; D005383:Finger Injuries / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000601:surgery*; D005385:Fingers / Q000098:blood supply; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012092:Replantation; D055815:Young Adult