title: Macroreplantations of the upper extremity: a series of 11 patients.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Micro- or macroreplantation is classified depending on the level of amputation, distal or proximal to the wrist. This study was performed to review our experience in macroreplantation of the upper extremity with special attention to technical considerations and outcomes.
  
  
  METHODS
  Between January 1990 and December 2010, 11 patients with a complete amputation of the upper extremity proximal to the wrist were referred for replantations to our department. The patients, one woman and ten men, had a mean age of 43.4 ± 18.2 years (range 19-76 years). There were two elbow, two proximal forearm, four mid-forearm, and three distal forearm amputations. The mechanism of injury was crush in four, crush-avulsion in five and guillotine amputation in two patients. The Chen classification was used to assess the postoperative outcomes. The mean follow-up after macroreplantation was 7.5 ± 6.3 years (range 2-21 years).
  
  
  RESULTS
  All but one were successfully replanted and regained limb function: Chen I in four cases (36 %), Chen II in three cases (27 %), Chen III in two cases (18 %), and Chen IV in one patient (9 %). We discuss the steps of the macroreplantation technique, the need to minimize ischemic time and the risk of ischemia reperfusion injuries.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Thanks to improvements in technique, the indications for limb preservation after amputation can be expanded. However, because of their rarity, replantations should be performed at specialist replantation centers.
  
  
  METHODS
  Level IV.
authors.affiliation: Department of Plastic and Hand Surgery, University of Bern, Inselspital Bern, Freiburgstrasse, 3010 Bern, Switzerland. franckleclere@yahoo.fr
authors.forename: Franck Marie
authors.initials: FM
authors.lastname: Leclère
authors.forename: Lukas
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Mathys
authors.forename: Bettina
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Juon
authors.forename: Torsten
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Franz
authors.forename: Frank
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Unglaub
authors.forename: Esther
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Vögelin
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000673:Amputation, Traumatic / Q000601:surgery*; D001134:Arm Injuries / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012092:Replantation / Q000379:methods*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D055815:Young Adult