Digital replantation in children.

ABSTRACT

This article reports a series of 21 cases of digital replantation in children between 14 months and 10 years of age (mean age, 3 1/2 years) who had a total of 32 digits traumatically amputated. The amputation levels were proximal phalanx in 15 digits, proximal interphalangeal joint in 3 digits, middle phalanx in 3 digits, and distal interphalangeal joint in 11 digits. All but one digit survived after replantation, for an overall survival rate of 96.6%. The longest ischemic time was 28 hours. Several technical points related to the success of this series of cases are discussed in detail.