[Microsurgery: organization and indication in the Federal Republic of Germany]

Since 1960's the new technique of microsurgery of the nerves was introduced in Germany at Departments of Plastic Surgery, Handsurgery and Neurosurgery. Since 1974 the technique of microvascular surgery was used in different places. In March 1975 the first free flap transfer was performed at our clinic in Munich. In the same year 24 h reimplantation services were established in Hamburg and Munich. In connection with training of other colleagues and information of the population we could perform up to 31 march 1980 703 replantations at the hand with a survival rate of 78.5%. Through education by annual instructional courses and fellowships at our clinic further replantation services were established in Germany. A general request showed that up to the middle of 1979 2742 micro- and 381 macro-replantations were performed in Germany. The places where replantations are done should be classified in 1. replantation centres (at present 9 in FRG), 2. replantation services (at present 4 in FRG), 3. places with microvascular experiences (at further 4 places in FRG). The training program for a member of a replantation team should include: 1. general surgery, traumatology, 2. plastic surgery, 3. hand surgery, 4. microsurgery. Beside the replantation also the clinical application of free tissue transplantation is increasingly used at our clinic and other places in Germany.