Replantation of digits

Injury	Disease	Nutrition	Poison

Symptoms	Surgery	Test	Special Topic

Amputated finger

Overview

Recovery

Risks

Replantation of digits

Alternative Names:

Revascularization of amputated digits; Reattachment of amputated fingers

Expectations after surgery:

Children are especially good candidates for replantation surgery because of their great ability to heal and regenerate tissue. Replantation of an amputated part is ideally performed within 4 to 6 hours after injury, but success has been reported up to 24 hours after the injury if the amputated part has been cooled.

Proper care of the amputated part or parts is vital to successful replantation. Under proper conditions, the long-term prognosis for the restoration of function in the digit is quite good.

Convalescence:

Special care is needed in the hospital to monitor and maintain the circulation to the replanted part. The extremity will be kept elevated. The room may be kept quite warm to ensure that circulation to the skin is not altered due to cooling.

After discharge from the hospital in about a week, the patient may need to wear a cast to protect the part. Continuing circulation checks are necessary.

Review Date: 10/27/2004
Reviewed By: Kevin B. Freedman, M.D., M.S.C.E., Sports Medicine, Orthopaedic Specialists, Bryn Mawr, PA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.

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