Finger replantations after ring avulsion amputations

The aim of this retrospective cross-sectional study was to assess vascular repair modalities and function in type IV ring finger replantations. Thirty-seven of 43 patients with complete ring avulsion amputations were replanted. After resection of the damaged arterial segments under microscopic magnification the arterial flow pattern was evaluated. The type of repair was chosen according to the adequacy of arterial flow and the defect between the vessels. The methods of bridging the arterial defect consisted of digital artery transfer from adjacent digit in 21 fingers, vein graft interposition in six fingers and end to end anastomosis in ten fingers. Thirty-one of the 37 fingers survived. The failures were due to four arterial and two venous insufficiencies. In our opinion, radical resection of damaged zones of vessels is important to evaluate the proximal flow pattern and decide which treatment modality is necessary for healthy vascular anastomosis.