Abstract
Abstract
Aim: The aim of this study is to reveal the factors regarding patients, injury mechanism, and surgery which may affect the outcomes of the replantation at the distal level of finger.
Material and Methods: Nineteen fingers of 12 patients regardless from the ages of the patients were included into the study. Patients’ ages, genders, affected side and finger, and repaired neurovascular structures were enrolled. Outcome of the surgery and its relationship with the repaired vascular structures, injury mechanism and the level of the replantation was noted.
Findings: The mean age of the patients was 29.5 (13-66) years. Two (16.7%) patients were female, 10 (83.3%) were male and the average follow-up period was 13.1 ± 3.8 months. Sixteen (84.2%) of 19 replanted fingers were healed, and necrosis developed in 3 (15.8%) fingers. Only artery repair was performed in 10 (52.6%) fingers. In artery repair group, 5 of 7 fingers were succesful in Zone 1A and 1B, 2 of 3 fingers were succesful in Zone 1C and 1D. Vein repair was added in 9 (47.4%) fingers and all of these fingers were in Zone1C and 1D and successful results were obtained.
There was no statistically significant difference was found in the comparison between performing artery or artery and vein repair, type of injury and level (respectively p = 0.211, p = 0.999, p = 0.523).

Conclusion: Distal finger replantation is a successful intervention in terms of functional and cosmetic results, but various technical difficulties should be considered prior to the surgery.

Key words: Finger amputation, microsurgery, replantation