RESUMO
BACKGROUND: Amputation in the upper extremities influenced the quality of life a lot adversely. So, replantation was tried in many cases of amputation. Especially, due to good plasticity and healing capacity, replantation in children should be actively attempted. On the contrary, owing to growth potential in children, there are several late complications to happen like shortening and synostosis. There are only a few longterm follow-up reports of paediatric patients after replantation of upper extremities. We report a case of successful distal forearm replantation in a 2-year-old child who sustained a wringer injury by a sawing machine with a follow-up of 30 years. CASE DESCRIPTION: A 2-year-old female patient was brought to our institution after a wringer injury to the distal forearm by a sawing machine. She sustained a near-total amputation at the distal forearm level with only a skin tag. Replantation was performed 4 hours after the injury. Radius and ulnar fractures were fixed with Kirschner and roll wires. The radial and ulnar arteries were anastomosed and three veins were anastomosed too. The median, ulnar, and radial nerves were managed by epi-perineurorrhaphy. The muscles were readapted, flexor tendons were performed tenorrhaphy each by each, and extensor tendons were performed grouping tenorrhaphy. Ten years after the replantation, a supination motion block was developed but successfully managed. CONCLUSION: Replantation of upper limbs in children is an eceedingly worthwhile procedure. Though due to growth potential several complications were developed unlikely in adults. But those can be improved with additional procedures. Good plasticity and healing capacity of children make good functional outcomes in long-term follow-up. So, replantation of upper limbs in children should essentially be considered and aggressively performed. HOW TO CITE THIS ARTICLE: Hee LS, Hyung-Sik K, Hong-Chul L. Distal Forearm Replantation in a Child: A Case Report with a 30-year Followup. Strategies Trauma Limb Reconstr 2021;16(3):179-183.
RESUMO
Replantation of an amputated limb is generally contraindicated in crushing and traction injuries. Injury to muscle tissue and skin also creates difficulties in coverage, and bony fractures may shorten limb length which can impede lower extremity function. Numerous cases have been reported on the successful replantation of the lower limb in children; however, review of previous English literature has documented only very few replantation at the thigh level, and those with severe crushing injury resulted in subsequent amputation. We report a case of successful thigh-level replantation in a 3-year-old child who sustained a crushing-traction type of injury with a follow-up of 24 years. After the replantation, early and late complications developed but these were successfully managed. On her last visit, the patient had pain-free ambulation without assistance, had intact protective sensation distal to the injury, and was very satisfied with the outcome. Replantation of the lower limb in children with crushing or avulsion type of injuries is still a worthwhile procedure. However, both the patient and the family should be aware that multiple surgeries may be needed to accommodate to long-term complications such as joint stiffness, scar contractures, and limb length discrepancies.
RESUMO
RESUMO Introdução: As indicações de reimplante de membros inferiores em crianças são ainda controversas na literatura e, comparadas com os reimplantes de membros superiores, são mais seletivas. Os reimplantes de membro inferior são menos frequentes por várias razões, haja vista que os traumas que provocam amputações ao nível do membro inferior geralmente são de alta energia cinética e provocam grave lesão tecidual, além da associação frequente de lesões de outros órgãos que contraindicam o procedimento. Associada à frequência de complicações graves no pós-operatório e os resultados medíocres de alguns casos, muitos cirurgiões se sentem desencorajados a reimplantar estes segmentos. Existem poucos relatos de reimplantes de membros inferiores com sucesso funcional na literatura. Relato de Caso: Paciente E.S.S., sexo feminino, quatro anos de idade, vítima de atropelamento por trem em julho de 1997, que resultou em esmagamento do terço inferior da perna esquerda e amputação ao nível do tornozelo esquerdo. A paciente deu entrada na emergência da Santa Casa de Campo Grande-MS, apresentando boas condições gerais, sendo indicado o reimplante do membro amputado. Foi então transferida à sala de operação (S.O), e após oito horas de isquemia foi reimplantado o pé esquerdo. Conclusão: Fica claro que em casos selecionados, como o da paciente acima, o reimplante microcirúrgico é uma opção válida e extremamente valiosa, não só do ponto de vista funcional, mas estético.
ABSTRACT Introduction: The indications for lower limb replantation in children are still controversial in the literature. Furthermore, they are more selective than those for upper limb replantation. Replantations of lower limbs are less frequent for various reasons, including that the traumas leading to amputations at the lower limb level are usually high-kinetic-energy injuries and involve severe tissue damage, in addition to their frequent association with other organ damage that discourage the use of the procedure. Because of the association with frequent serious postoperative complications and unsatisfactory outcomes in some cases, many surgeons feel discouraged to replant these segments. There are few literature reports on lower limb replantations with functional success. Case Report: Patient E.S.S. is a 4-year-old girl who was run over by a train in July 1997. The accident resulted in the crushing of the lower third of her left leg and the amputation of her left ankle. She was admitted to the emergency room of Santa Casa de Campo Grande-MS, in good overall condition. Replantation of the amputated limb was recommended. She was then transferred to the operating room, and her left foot was replanted after 8 h of ischemia. Conclusion: Clearly, in selected cases, such as the patient reported here, microsurgical replantation is a valid and extremely valuable option, both from a functional and an aesthetic point of view.
