8 YEARS EXPERIENCE IN CRUSH AND AVULSION TYPE FINGER AMPUTATION

Between July 1986 and July 1994, we studied 125 total finger amputatio ns due to crush and avulsion type injuries at the Izmir Hand and Micro surgery Hospital. Of the 125 fingers replanted, 88 were successful, fo r a general survival rate of 70.4%. In the period between 1986 and 199 1, we performed end-to-end anastomoses and achieved a survival rate of 48.3% (Group I). Between 1991 and 1994, with the application of a pri mary interpositional vein graft for the required indications in this t ype of injury, the general survival rate increased to 77.1% (Group II; P < 0.05). We conclude that the significant increase in the survival rate in Group II is related to both the increased experience of the su rgical team and the application of the primary interpositional vein gr aft. (C) 1996 Wiley-Liss, Inc.