title: Regeneration and repair of human digits and limbs: fact and fiction.
abstract: A variety of digit and limb repair and reconstruction methods have been used in different clinical settings, but regeneration remains an item on every plastic surgeon's "wish list." Although surgical salvage techniques are continually being improved, unreplantable digits and limbs are still abundant. We comprehensively review the structural and functional salvage methods in clinical practice, from the peeling injuries of small distal fingertips to multisegmented amputated limbs, and the developmental and tissue engineering approaches for regenerating human digits and limbs in the laboratory. Although surgical techniques have forged ahead, there are still situations in which digits and limbs are unreplantable. Advances in the field are delineated, and the regeneration processes of salamander limbs, lizard tails, and mouse digits and each component of tissue engineering approaches for digit- and limb-building are discussed. Although the current technology is promising, there are many challenges in human digit and limb regeneration. We hope this review inspires research on the critical gap between clinical and basic science, and leads to more sophisticated digit and limb loss rescue and regeneration innovations.
authors: Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Department of Surgery, National Cheng Kung University Hospital, College of Medicine National Cheng Kung University Tainan Taiwan; International Research Center for Wound Repair and Regeneration (iWRR) National Cheng Kung University Tainan Taiwan.
authors: Shyh-Jou
authors: SJ
authors: Shieh
authors: Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Department of Surgery, National Cheng Kung University Hospital, College of Medicine National Cheng Kung University Tainan Taiwan.
authors: Tsun-Chih
authors: TC
authors: Cheng
keywords: Digit and limb regeneration; digit and limb surgical reconstruction; regenerative medicine; regrowing human digits and limbs; tissue engineering