Technical considerations and functional outcome of 22 major replantations (The BSSH Douglas Lamb Lecture, 2005)

• Published in: The Journal of hand surgery, European volume Vol. 32; no. 5; p. 488
• Main Authors: Sabapathy, S Raja, Venkatramani, H, Bharathi, R R, Dheenadhayalan, J, Bhat, V R, Rajasekaran, S
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England 01.10.2007
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Amputation, Traumatic - surgery; Child; Debridement - methods; Female; Follow-Up Studies; Forearm Injuries - surgery; Fracture Fixation, Internal - methods; Hand Strength - physiology; Humans; Male; Microsurgery - methods; Middle Aged; Motor Skills - physiology; Outcome Assessment (Health Care); Postoperative Care - methods; Postoperative Complications - etiology; Postoperative Complications - surgery; Range of Motion, Articular - physiology; Reoperation; Replantation - methods; Tissue Survival; Warm Ischemia; Wrist Injuries - surgery
• ISSN: 1753-1934
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jhse.2007.06.013

Twenty-two consecutive major replantations carried out over a 5-year period were assessed with a minimum follow-up of 2 years. Only two patients suffered guillotine amputations. The remainders were either crush, or crush avulsion amputation. Replantation was successful in 20 cases. When analysed by Chen's criteria, there were three Grade I, nine Grade II, six Grade III and two Grade IV results. Most patients with successful replants put the hand to greater use with time and replantation greatly added to the overall well-being of the patient. We consider major replantation as a worthwhile procedure. Radical debridement, bone shortening and well laid out protocols to reduce the ischaemia time are important for success. The technical details which we believe to be important for success are outlined. With decreasing numbers of such injuries in most countries, this paper may help surgeons faced with an occasional patient with a major amputation to make the right decisions.