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Replantation of the Digits

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Extremity Replantation

Abstract

Replantation of fingers represents the culmination of a myriad of hand surgery skills, from the precise repair of bony and tendinous injuries to the microsurgical anastomosis of artery, veins, and nerves. This chapter discusses the indications, operative technique, and postoperative care of amputated digits. Emphasis is placed on indications for replantation, since vascular success does not translate to functional success. A poor replant result is frustrating to both patient and surgeon. Despite their high technical demand, on suboptimal tissues, usually at inconvenient times, replantation surgery tends to be the most rewarding with results that are far superior to any secondary reconstructive procedures.

Any fool can cut off an arm or leg but it takes a surgeon to save one.

George C. Ross (1843–1892)

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, CA, USA

    Clifford Pereira FRCS(Eng)

  2. Section of Reconstructive Transplantation, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery and Plastic Surgery, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, 10945 Le Conte Ave, Suite 3355, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA

    Kodi Azari MD, FACS

Authors
  1. Clifford Pereira FRCS(Eng)
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  2. Kodi Azari MD, FACS
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Corresponding authors

Correspondence to Clifford Pereira FRCS(Eng) or Kodi Azari MD, FACS .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Department of Surgery, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin, USA

    A. Neil Salyapongse

  2. Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Department of Surgery, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin, USA

    Samuel O. Poore

  3. Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Department of Surgery, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin, USA

    Ahmed M. Afifi

  4. Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Department of Surgery, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin, USA

    Michael L. Bentz

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Pereira, C., Azari, K. (2015). Replantation of the Digits. In: Salyapongse, A., Poore, S., Afifi, A., Bentz, M. (eds) Extremity Replantation. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4899-7516-4_5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4899-7516-4_5

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Boston, MA

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4899-7515-7

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4899-7516-4

  • eBook Packages: MedicineMedicine (R0)

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