[Replantation or prosthesis: individual planning]

Rehabilitation of a replanted upper limb is difficult and has to start close to the operation. Physical and occupational therapy are working close together. The unimpaired opposite upper extremity must be trained as well. Replantation of upper limb causes not only a lot of reoperations with extended morbidity, but also problems in social, family and psychic. After eventual amputation of the upper limb prosthetic compensation is necessary as soon as possible. There is a gap open between the technical and financial possibilities. To avoid spine disorders a shoulder cap is necessary if prosthetic compensation is not possible in higher amputations.