Afferent Arteriovenous Anastomosis For Finger Tip Replantation

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: The vessels of the finger tip are very small and fragile, have many branches, so the anastomosis of this vessel is very difficult. Guillotine type amputation of digits are rare, on the other hand, crush/avulsion injuries which require complex surgical solutions are more frequent. We often found that the arteries of distal amputee on crush/avulsion injuries are lost. In these cases, replantation is much more difficult even impossible. But when replantation is successes, the replantated finger tip provides adequate soft tissue, restoration of length, sensory and nail. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We report here our experience of finger tip replantation using afferent a-v anastomosis technique accumulated from March 2006 to March 2009. RESULT: The success rate was 96.4%. Complications occurred in eight patients. (5 digit atrophy, 1 osteomyelitis, 1 severe digit pain and 1 cold intolerance) CONCLUSIONS: We believe that the afferent a-v anastomosis replantation provides us wider range of indication of finger tip replantation on crush/avulsion injuries.