A Simple Technique Ensuring Adequate Exposure During Primary Repair of Complex Thumb Injuries

As the thumb is pronated, primary repair of complex injuries may be more difficult than the repair of other digits. We describe a simple technique that facilitates thumb repair. We insert a Kirschner wire perpendicular to the bone axis in the middle of the proximal phalanx, which ensures adequate exposure of the palmar aspect without the need for thumb position adjustment by an assistant. This technique is particularly useful when inexperienced surgeons perform thumb replantation and primary flexor tendon repair using a multistrand suture technique.