A comparison of replantation and terminalization after distal finger amputation

Abstract

This study records the subjective opinion of 30 patients who sustained a distal amputation of a single finger beyond the FDS tendon insertion which was treated by replantation, successfully or unsuccessfully, or by terminalization. All other patients who underwent replantation or terminalization of a single distal finger amputation but also had other injuries of the hand or fingers were excluded. Eleven patients had successful replantation, nine in whom replantation was not possible or was not successful had subsequent terminalization and ten had primary terminalization without attempting replantation. Only seven of the patients undergoing terminalization had further shortening of bone, the remainder being treated with homodigital neurovascular advancement flaps. Replantation was favoured by patients for sensory and motor functional reasons as well as for cosmetic reasons. Cold intolerance was less common in the successfully replanted fingers.