Cold-Induced Arterial Spasm after Digital Amputation

Abstract

The incidence and intensity of cold-induced digital vasospasm was investigated in 18 patients with digital amputation injuries. Nine patients had undergone replantation surgery, while in the remaining nine cases the injury had been treated by stump revision and closure. The vascularity of the injured digits and of uninjured fingers in both hands, was studied. The results confirm that cold-induced vasospasm is no more conspicuous in replanted fingers than in amputation stumps. Pathological vascular reactions to cold were also common in uninjured fingers in both hands.