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Replantation in children
Author(s) -
Taras John S.,
Nunley James A.,
Urbaniak James R.,
Goldner Richard D.,
Fitch Robert D.
Publication year - 1991
Publication title -
microsurgery
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.031
H-Index - 63
eISSN - 1098-2752
pISSN - 0738-1085
DOI - 10.1002/micr.1920120311
Subject(s) - replantation , medicine , amputation , numerical digit , surgery , fixation (population genetics) , population , mathematics , arithmetic , environmental health
The authors have replanted 162 parts in 120 children over the past 15 years. The youngest patient, undergoing successful replantation, was aged 7 months, 3 weeks. Unlike an adult, any child suffering a traumatic amputation should be considered for a possible replantation. Replantation should consist of minimal bone shortening to preserve epiphyseal plates, with repair of all severed structures. Longitudinal K‐wires usually provide adequate fixation. Our survival rate for complete replantation in children under the age of 16 years is 77%. Long‐term study showed that continued skeletal growth occurred and the digit attained 81% of normal longitudinal length at maturity. Recovery of sensibility in the replanted digit is nearly as good as for isolated digital nerve repair. Patient and parent satisfaction is high when replantation is successful, with uniform approval of the extensive effort required.