Replantation of digits: factors influencing survival and functional results

Immediate survival and functional results were studied in 60 finger replants performed from 1980 to 1990. The follow-up ranged from 1 to 5 years with the mean of 2 years and 8 months. The survival rate achieved was 70% and was not related to the patient's age, the mechanism of injury, the level of amputation, the total ischemia time, the number of arteries and veins repaired or the type of vascular reconstruction. Sensory return was related to the mechanism of amputation and the total active motion was strongly correlated with the level of amputation. Of the 16 digits that had only one artery anastomosed, there were 10 survivals (62.5%), and in 15 digits with anastomosis of two arteries, the success rate was 86.66% (P = 0.1244). The success rate in those cases in which vascular grafts were employed was 62.96% (P = 0.4161). In replantations with one, two or three veins anastomosed, the survival rate was 50%, 79.16% and 100%, respectively (P = 0.1324).