Related Experiment Videos
Abstract:
Twenty-two patients with 27 traumatic amputations of the fingers comprise the study group. The fingers of the right hand were affected in 19 cases and of the left hand in 8. The traumatic injuries of the right hand affected mostly the II. and the III. finger, whereas the left hand injuries affected almost with equal frequency the II. to the V. finger. Primary free skin plasty was performed after sparing surgical processing without shortening of the bone. In 3 cases this was done late after the inflammatory changes in the conquassated tissues had disappeared. Primary cure after postoperative hospital stay from 7 to 15 days was observed. Early rehabilitation was attempted. The results, both cosmetic and functional were satisfactory. Fine sensitivity was impaired during the early period after the operation, but was improved after the sixth month. Of the 11 tested patients who reported for control 6 months to 5 years after the operation, 10 were able to distinguish two points of pressure at 6 mm distance from one another and could fulfil their professional work without difficulties. Taking into account that of all cases of traumatic injuries to the hand only 4 per cent report to specialized hospital departments, the author considers free skin plasty a method of choice for the general surgical units over all other plastic methods of non-free skin plasty which are also presented and illustrated in the paper.