title: [Thumb replantation through bridging ulnar proper digital artery and dorsal carpal branch of radial artery].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To introduce treatment method of replantation of severed thumb trauma with proximal arterial, and to evaluate its efficacy.
  
  
  METHODS
  From February 2007 to March 2009,13 patients with severed thumb in serious injury of proximal arterial were treated with vein graft of volar forearm,bridging between dorsal carpal branch of radial artery on nasopharyngeal fossa and distal stump of ulnar proper digital artery. Among them, there were 11 males and 2 females with an average age of 34.5 years ranging from 16 to 50 years. Seven cases were in the left thumb,6 in the right thumb. Eight cases were complete separation, incomplete separation in 5 cases. Ten cases recieved emergency reimplantation, 3 cases with the arterial crisis after conventional replantation were explorated and repaired.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Thumb of 13 cases all survived. All patients were followed-up for 8 to 17 months (averaged, 11 months). Replantation thumb obtained satisfactory appearance. According to Chinese Medical Association Society of Hand Surgery Trial criteria, the results were excellent in 9 fingers, good in 3 fingers, 1 poor finger. Two point discrimination of finger pulp was 5 to 8 mm (averaged 6.5 mm).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  By repairing artery of thumb with vein graft of volar forearm, bridging between dorsal carpal branch of radial artery on nasopharyngeal fossa and distal stump of ulnar proper digital artery,complex severed thumb replants on surgery position comfortable,without affecting the blood supply of the hand, expanding the indications for replantation and improving the success rate of replantation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Hand Surgery and Microsurgery, Luoyang Orthopedic-Traumatological Hospital of Henan Province, Luoyang 471002, Henan, China. jinguoq@tom.com
authors.forename: Guo-Qiang
authors.initials: GQ
authors.lastname: Jin
authors.forename: Da-Peng
authors.initials: DP
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Chun-You
authors.initials: CY
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Xiao-Feng
authors.initials: XF
authors.lastname: Ming
authors.forename: Xiao-Fei
authors.initials: XF
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.forename: Chun-Sheng
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Cheng
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017534:Radial Artery / Q000601:surgery*; D012092:Replantation / Q000379:methods*; D013933:Thumb / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000601:surgery*; D017535:Ulnar Artery / Q000601:surgery*; D055815:Young Adult