A four-year community hospital experience regarding procedures for the replantation and revascularization of fingers
Retrospective study published in Jt Dis Relat Surg (2021)
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: This study aims to evaluate the clinical results and experiences in a community hospital regarding procedures for the replantation and revascularization of fingers. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Between June 2015 and December 2019, a total of 58 patients (51 males, 7 females; mean age: 33.4±6.3 years; range, 23 to 46 years) who were followed after total and/or subtotal amputation and replantation were retrospectively analyzed. The patients were evaluated at nine months in terms of cold intolerance, static two-point discrimination, and functional results using the range of motion (ROM) and Quick Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand (QuickDASH) questionnaire. RESULTS: The majority of the patients presented with work-related injuries (70%), most commonly by the mechanism of guillotine (64%), and to the dominant hand (76%) and the third finger (36%) most frequently. The overall success rate of digit salvage was 72.9% (n=51). Of 19 digits with unsuccessful surgical outcomes, seven were from total and 12 were from subtotal amputations. In the long-term, cold intolerance was observed in 14 patients (24.1%) according to the cold intolerance severity scale. The mean static two-point discrimination value was 6.0±0.7 mm and the mean QuickDASH score was 22.3±5.0. The mean ROM measured at nine months after surgery in the metacarpophalangeal and interphalangeal joints of the third and fourth digits was significantly lower than that in the others (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: The predictors of survival of a replanted digit indicated in this study can be used as a guide and decision-making aid for any attempts for replantation.
Abstract sourced from PubMed (NCBI) for the cited record. See the original publication for the authoritative version.
Summary
Community-hospital retrospective study of 58 patients with 72.9% digit-salvage success rate after finger replantation/revascularization.
Why This Matters for Hirudotherapy
This retrospective study analyzed 58 patients who underwent finger replantation or revascularization at a community hospital over four years, reporting a 72.9% overall digit salvage success rate and providing data on cold intolerance, two-point discrimination, and functional outcomes. The study makes no mention of leech therapy, hirudotherapy, or venous congestion management. There is no defensible leech-related relevance to ASH's domain in this article, which focuses entirely on surgical technique and outcomes predictors for digit replantation without addressing any adjunctive biological therapies.
Citation
A four-year community hospital experience regarding procedures for the replantation and revascularization of fingers.
Gurbuz K et al. · Joint diseases and related surgery, 2021
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