COLD INTOLERANCE IS NOT MORE COMMON OR DISABLING AFTER DIGITAL REPLANTATION THAN AFTER OTHER TREATMENT OF COMPOUND DIGITAL INJURIES

Cold intolerance is a common reason for disability after hand injury. In this study of posttraumatic cold intolerance, 20 patients with a hi story of digital replantation were matched with 20 control subjects wh o had not undergone replantation. The incidence and intensity of cold- related symptoms among patients in the two groups was investigated thr ough the use of individual interviews and a grading scale for self-ass essment of symptoms. The analysis of data indicates that although the pattern of symptoms may vary, the condition is neither more common nor more disabling among those who have undergone digital replantation. C old intolerance after digital replantation seems, therefore, to be def ined by the initial trauma and not by the subsequent reconstructive su rgery.