[Technical aspects of experimental reimplantation of limbs in the dog]

Reimplantation of traumatically amputated limbs or their part is now carried out with increasing success due to the perfection of surgical techniques, especially in the case of microsurgery. Experimental perfection of such techniques is clearly the first step towards the clinical employement of reimplantation. Amputation and reimplantation of the hind leg in five dogs is reported. The first objective was the establishment of the reimplantation technique, whose salient features included: perfusion with dextran 40 and Trasylol, Kunster's centromedullary nail for osteosynthesis, microneurorrhaphy to bring together individual nerve funiculi, and vascular microsurgery based on previous experimental work. The immediate results show that the steps of the technique have now been established. Confirmation of their long-term validity, especially as far as functional recovery is now awaited.