Initial experience with hand replantation after traumatic amputation in a nonspecialized center

Abstract

Traumatic amputation of the hand is an incapacitating injury, requiring skilled surgical care. Achieving functional recovery in addition to salvage of the amputated extremity should be the goal of the patient care team, after the life of the patient is secured. This is a report of the first five cases of hand replantation after complete traumatic amputation in Manaus (Amazonas, Brazil), carried out at Hospital Pronto-Socorro Dr. João Lúcio Pereira Machado. The patients were all young males, mean age of 22.8 years, presenting at the emergency room with complete sharp amputation of the hand. After initial procedures according to the ATLS® protocol, the following surgical actions were taken: heparinization of the blood vessels of the amputated extremity, fixation of the bones, wide opening of the carpal tunnel, primary vascular anastomoses and repair of nerves and tendons. In four cases, viability and partial functional recovery of the replanted hands were achieved. The unsuccessful case was due to extensive venous thrombosis.Through this preliminary experience, we can state that hand replantation can be performed successfully in a nonspecialized hospital and that optimal results depend on adequate prehospital care, multidisciplinary surgical treatment and careful postoperative assistance.