Experiences in microsurgery in The People's Republic of China

In 1963, the successful replantation of an upper extremity amputated at the forearm provided the impetus for great interest in this surgical procedure in the People's Republic of China. In the 16 years since that time, much progress has been made, especially after the introduction of microsurgical techniques. Prior to 1973, replantation of digits was performed 443 times under the naked eye, with a digit survival rate of 51%. Since 1973, 92 replantations have been done under the microscope, with a digit survival rate of 91%. Experience is also recorded for free abdominal skin grafts, toe transplants for thumb and finger reconstruction, free dorsalis pedis flaps, free vascularized fibular transplants, free muscle transplants, jejunal transplants for esophageal defects, combined free grafts of the omentum and skin for repair of scalp, cranial, and extremity defects, and extracranial-intracranial blood flow diversion.