A Retrospective Analysis of 101 Cases of Distal Digital Replantation

수지 첨부 재접합술 101예의 후향적 분석

We retrospectively evaluated our results of replantations of distal digital amputations and analyzed the factors deterrent to the survival of replanted digits. From January 2004 to 2005 June, we performed 101 cases of replantations following complete amputations at or distal to interphalangeal joint level. The study included 98 patients with a mean age of 35.6 years (range 1 to 63 years). Amputation level correlated to zone I (distal to the lunula)in 47 cases and zone II (lunula to distal interphalangeal joint) in 54 cases according to Yamano's classification. According to the mechanism of amputation, 24 cases (22.9%) suffered from guillotine type injury, 27 cases (27.1 %) from avulsion type injury and 50 cases (50%) from crush type injury. In all cases, a single arterial anastomosis was performed. Venous anastomosis on either volar or dorsal side was performed in 12 cases of amputation in zone II. Salvage procedure for venous drainage was performed in 98 cases. The mean duration of salvage procedures was 5.9 days (ranging from 4 to 14 days). Successful replantation was achieved in 96 cases (95.1%), which included 93.7% cases in zone I amputations and 96.3% cases in zone II amputations. A single venous anastomosis was performed in 12 cases of amputation in zone II. All of them survived completely. Among the 5 cases that failed to survive, 3 cases were related with avulsion injury in zone I. Initial mechanism of injury determines the survival rate of amputated parts as it is directly related with the status of vessels and soft tissues. Meticulous precaution during the salvage procedure may affect the overall survival rate of distal digital replantations.