MULTIVARIATE-ANALYSIS OF FACTORS INFLUENCING THE FUNCTIONAL RECOVERY AFTER FINGER REPLANTATION OR REVASCULARIZATION

A multivariate statistical analysis was utilized to study the influenc e of the four preoperative (age, mechanism of injury, level of injury, and type of amputation) and one postoperative (rehabilitation) variab les on the functional recovery of the replanted or revascularized fing er. Statistically significant differences are summarized as follows. T he young age group have a better functional recovery due to better sen sory recovery than the old age group. The crush injury group have a be tter functional recovery, with better scores in motion and patient sat isfaction, than the avulsion injury group. The middle phalangeal injur y group have a better functional recovery, with better score in motion and sensation than the proximal phalangeal injury group. There is no statistically significant difference in functional recovery between th e revascularized and replanted fingers, but there is a significantly b etter sensory recovery in the revascularized finger. The rehabilitatio n group has a better functional recovery, with better score in motion, subjective symptoms, and patient satisfaction, than the nonrehabilita tion group. (C) 1996 Wiley-Liss, Inc.