Complications and Pitfalls after Finger Replantation in Young Children

Study Design This is a retrospective cohort study. Objective The authors report surgical outcome in a series of very young children who underwent finger replantation after traumatic amputation. Methods During a 10-year period, 65 children were treated with replantation for finger amputation in two institutions. This study focused on replantation of 15 fingers in 13 young patients under 6 years of age (mean age: 2.9 years; range: 1.1-5.7 years). Early postoperative complications were categorized into major or minor. At the time of assessment, the authors evaluated everyday life activities, pain and cold tolerance, total active range of motion (TAM) in patients with successful replantation, and growth disturbance. Results The overall success rate for children younger than 6 years was 47% (7 out of 15), and the authors had 67% of major complications, mainly in patients with crush injuries. There was venous ischemia in 13 (86%) fingers treated with controlled bleeding. The hemoglobin level decreased more than 2 g/dL in six patients, and blood transfusion was necessary in two patients. At the last follow-up, patients with successful replantation had a mean TAM of 72%. Conclusion Despite numerous complications mainly in relation with venous congestion, the functional outcome is satisfactory after successful replantation in young children, which should always be attempted. Level of Evidence/Type of Study Level III, case series, therapeutic study.

Abstract sourced from PubMed (NCBI) for the cited record. See the original publication for the authoritative version.

This is a retrospective cohort study.The authors report surgical outcome in a series of very young children who underwent finger replantation after traumatic amputation.During a 10-year period, 65 children were treated with replantation for finger amputation in two institutions.

Explore how this research connects to clinical practice

More peer-reviewed studies in Drug Development.

• Novel Leech Antimicrobial Peptides — Hirunipins — Kumar et al. (2025)
• Medicinal Leech Genome Assembly — Anticoagulant Gene Catalog — Kvist et al. (2020)
• Effects of hirudotherapy on liver functions, lipid profile, and insulin sensitivity in rats with metabolic syndrome — Bilden A et al. (2026)
• Hirudotherapy in Medicine and Dentistry — Jha K et al. (2015)
• Medicinal leech therapy (hirudotherapy): a brief overview — Singh A (2010)
• HIRUDOTHERAPY IN PRESBYACUZIS PRAECOX IN CLEAN-UP WORKERS AFTER THE CHORNOBYL ACCIDENT DURING THE POST-CATASTROPHE YEARS — Zabolotnyi D, Mishchanchuk N (2019)
• Investigation of oxidant-antioxidant status in patients treated with hirudotherapy: an experimental study — Sarikan I, Savas H (2024)
• Leech therapeutic applications — Abdualkader A et al. (2013)
• Non-Occlusive Mesenteric Ischemia Due to Hirudotherapy: A Case Report — Akalın Ç, Ekmen N (2020)
• Leech therapy: a history — Hyson J (2005)

Browse all ASH-analysed research →