Twelve patients with complete thumb amputations were analyzed to deter
mine the interrelations between thermoregulation for pain and cold int
olerance and sensory nerve recovery, Patients were examined at 3 month
s, 6 months, 1 year, and after 2 years following replantation. Medical
thermography was introduced to assess postoperative circulation follo
wing digital replantation, while vasomotor tone was assessed by cold-s
tress plethysmography testing. Postoperative circulation was divided i
nto two different patterns based upon skin temperature, the transition
of which over time correlated well with sensory nerve recovery, Patie
nts with cold intolerance showed a persistent vasoconstriction pattern
, the cold change of which was objectively detected by thermography. (
C) 1995 Wiley-Liss, Inc.