Return-to-Work After Attempted Digit Replantation: A Systematic Review of 31 Studies

BACKGROUND: Traumatic digit amputation is a common injury with life-altering consequences for thousands of patients each year. In this study, we aim to update and expand the reported outcomes of return-to-work (RTW) and functional recovery in patients treated with digit replant after traumatic amputation. METHODS: A PRISMA-guided systematic review was performed to identify all published articles related to digit replantation following amputation. We queried the following 4 databases: Scopus, Embase, Web of Science, and PubMed-MEDLINE. A total of 31 studies were included in the analysis of return-to-work data. RESULTS: Of the 31 included studies, 26 studies reported that 1976 digits were successfully replanted, while 27 studies reported that 300 replants failed (86.8% success rate). Among 1087 patients in these studies, 82.9% who underwent replantation returned to work. The mean RTW time in 16 studies was 4.7 months (weighted average). Return-to-work time ranged from 0 to 26 months in 12 studies. Of 352 patients who returned to work in 17 studies, 90.9% resumed their previous occupation, while 29 (8.2%) changed occupations. The RTW for finger-only replantations was significantly lower compared to thumb-only, distal digit-only, and any digit replantations (66.0% vs 82.8%; 66.0% vs 87.6%; 66.0% vs 82.9%). CONCLUSION: Despite a declining prevalence of digit replantation surgery in recent years, this study illustrates that replantation provides beneficial outcomes for patients with a high return-to-work rate.

Resumen tomado de PubMed (NCBI) para el registro citado, en el idioma original. La versión de referencia es la de la publicación original.

El resumen se deja sin traducir para conservar la redacción original de los autores.

A systematic review of 31 studies found 82.9% of 1087 digit-replantation patients returned to work, with a weighted mean return time of 4.7 months; finger-only replantations had lower return-to-work rates than thumb-only or distal digit replantations.

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