title: The Biomechanical Impact of Digital Loss and Fusion Following Trauma: Setting the Patient up for Success.
abstract: Surgeons managing mutilating hand injures are faced with difficult decisions between attempting to salvage remaining or injured digits or proceeding to amputation and fusion. Through application of a basic understanding of hand biomechanics, the surgeon may more accurately predict what motion and function can best be salvaged. This article provides an explanation of how amputation, fusion, and tendon loss can affect postoperative hand motion. The surgeon can use these concepts in planning the reconstruction or preparing the foundation for secondary reconstructive procedures to achieve the highest functional outcome for the patient.
authors.affiliation: Toronto Western Hand Program, University Health Network, University of Toronto, 399 Bathurst Street, 2nd Floor East Wing, Room 422, Toronto, Ontario M5T 2S8, Canada.
authors.forename: Heather L
authors.initials: HL
authors.lastname: Baltzer
authors.affiliation: Division of Orthopedic Surgery, Department of Hand Surgery, Mayo Clinic, 200 1st Street Southwest, Rochester, MN 55905, USA; Division of Plastic Surgery, Mayo Clinic, 200 1st Street Southwest, Rochester, MN 55905, USA. Electronic address: moran.steven@mayo.edu.
authors.forename: Steven L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Moran
mesh_terms: D000673:Amputation, Traumatic / Q000534:rehabilitation / Q000601:surgery*; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D005383:Finger Injuries / Q000534:rehabilitation / Q000601:surgery*; D006230:Hand Injuries / Q000534:rehabilitation / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D008488:Medical Illustration; D010781:Photography; D013710:Tendons
keywords: Digital amputation; Digital replantation; Hand biomechanics; Mutilating hand trauma