THUMB REPLANTATION - SURVIVAL FACTORS AND RE-EXPLORATION IN 122 CASES

We analyzed 122 cases of replantation following complete amputation of the thumb and correlated various factors with rates of survival. The overall survival rate of thumb replantation was 71%. The type of amput ation markedly affected survival rate. In minimally damaged amputation s, the time period from injury to the start of surgery was the only si gnificant factor related to survival. Other factors such as age, smoki ng history, amputation level, the number of vessels reconstructed and the method used did not relate statistically to survival. With avulsio n amputations, the survival rate of replantation at and proximal to th e MP joint was significantly better than replantation distal to the MP joint. 20 thumbs required re-exploration for vascular compromise; nin e of these were salvaged (45%).