Oxygen levels in claudicating fingers: a 3 year follow-up after replantation

After successful replantation of amputated digits some patients develop signs and symptoms of claudication. In these replanted claudicating digits the pO2 levels are 20% lower than those found in "control" fingers or in successfully replanted digits which do not demonstrate claudication. These symptoms could be explained theoretically by postulating (i) partial arterial thrombosis and/or (ii) an impaired sympathetic nervous system. Observations on our small series of 10 patients suggest that the first explanation is improbable.