Effects of external bleeding and hyperbaric oxygen treatment on Tamai zone 1 replantation

Tamai zone 1 replantation poses a challenge due to the very small size of the vascular structures; often there is no vein for anastomosis. Replantation may have to be done with only an arterial anastomosis. In our study, we aimed to evaluate the success of replantation by combining external bleeding and hyperbaric oxygen treatment (HBOT) in Tamai zone 1 replantation.

Between January 2017 and October 2021, 17 finger replantation patients who underwent artery-only anastomosis due to Tamai zone 1 amputation received 20 sessions of HBOT with external bleeding after the 24th postoperative hour. Finger viability was assessed at the end of treatment. A retrospective review of outcomes was performed.

Seventeen clean-cut finger amputation patients were operated on under digital block anaesthesia with a finger tourniquet. No blood transfusion was required. In one patient, complete necrosis developed and stump closure was performed. Partial necrosis was observed in three patients and healed secondarily. Replantation in the remaining patients was successful.

Vein anastomosis is not always possible in fingertip replantation. In Tamai zone 1 replantation with arteryonly anastomosis, post-operative HBOT with induced external bleeding appeared to shortened the hospital stay and was associated with a high proportion of successful outcomes.