SECONDARY SURGERIES AFTER DIGITAL REPLANTATIONS: A CASE SERIES

Abstract

We evaluated the injuries, survival rats, and secondary surgeries of patients who had undergone finger replantation or revascularization between October 2005 and July 2010. The 70 digits came from 43 patients (average age, 46 years; range, 19 to 78 years; 37 men). Overall replantation survival rate was 94%; 93% (27/29) for complete amputations and 95% (39/41) for near-amputations. In all, 39 digits from 21 patients required 48 secondary surgeries; skin grafts, tenolysis, joint fusion, bone graft, osteotomy, and web plasty. The more proximal or more severe the injuries, the higher the need of secondary surgeries. The most common surgery soon after replantation was skin coverage; the most common after two months was tendon surgery. Primary repair must be adequate to restore the function and appearance of amputated digits; however, the possible need for secondary surgeries must be kept in mind to avoid restricting the options for secondary procedures.