An introduction into the use of fabricated chimeric flaps in replantation surgery of digits

Abstract

Since microsurgical finger replantations started to be successfully performed at the beginning of the 1960 s, there has been an evolution in the techniques for restoring blood flow to the amputated fingers. Initially, end-to-end anastomoses were performed. Later on, vascular grafts-predominantly vein interpositional grafts-were successfully used for difficult avulsion injuries. These vascular grafts were extended by microvascular flaps in the form of flow-through flaps in cases with simultaneous soft tissue loss. A further development of these techniques has been achieved by the replantation of amputated fingers with the help of fabricated chimeric flaps. The amputated finger is anastomosed microsurgically with a flap "in tabula" before the actual replantation. Only then is the fabricated chimera replanted as a construct. The latest development so far is heterotopic replantation with secondary replantation in the form a fabricated chimeric flap. By way of introduction, we describe three cases in which we have successfully applied this concept of fabricated chimeric flap surgery for orthotopic thumb replantations.