A surgical approach for replantation of complete digital amputations

A technique of extending exposure in digital replantation using lateral incisions permits atraumatic exposure of adequate length of digital nerves, arteries, and veins, and excellent exposure for fashioning bone and debridement and repair of tendon. Increase in viability rates, the ability to repair two arteries per digit, the number of veins repaired per digit, and a higher overall arterial patency rate appear to be related to the improved exposure. Operative time was also significantly shorter.