title: Prevalence, characteristics and natural history of cold intolerance after the reverse digital artery flap.
abstract: This retrospective study was designed to investigate the prevalence, characteristics and natural history of cold intolerance after the use of the reverse digital artery flap. A total of 123 patients were treated between 2010 and 2013. After excluding patients who were lost to follow-up, 87 patients were studied. The mean follow-up time was 34 months (range 14-61). Cold intolerance occurred in 60% (52) of patients after the reverse digital artery flap procedure. The condition improved in only 15% (8) of the patients. Significant differences were observed in the age and the specific digit involved between the groups with and without cold intolerance. There was a lower incidence in younger patients, and the ring finger group showed a lower incidence than in other fingers. Furthermore, the Cold Intolerance Symptom Severity score was positively correlated with the temperature at which cold intolerance was triggered.
  
  
  METHODS
  IV.
authors.affiliation: Department of Hand Surgery, Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University, Jiangsu, China.
authors.forename: Y C
authors.initials: YC
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.affiliation: Department of Hand Surgery, Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University, Jiangsu, China.
authors.forename: Q Z
authors.initials: QZ
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Department of Hand Surgery, Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University, Jiangsu, China.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Department of Hand Surgery, Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University, Jiangsu, China.
authors.forename: Z W
authors.initials: ZW
authors.lastname: Qian
authors.affiliation: Department of Hand Surgery, Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University, Jiangsu, China.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kong
authors.affiliation: Department of Hand Surgery, Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University, Jiangsu, China gonghand@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Y P
authors.initials: YP
authors.lastname: Gong
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003080:Cold Temperature; D005260:Female; D005383:Finger Injuries / Q000601:surgery*; D005385:Fingers / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000601:surgery*; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D012678:Sensation Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013524:Surgical Flaps / Q000098:blood supply*
keywords: Cold intolerance; reverse digital artery flap