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Macroreplantations of the upper extremity: a series of 11 patients

  • Handsurgery
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Archives of Orthopaedic and Trauma Surgery Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Introduction

Micro- or macroreplantation is classified depending on the level of amputation, distal or proximal to the wrist. This study was performed to review our experience in macroreplantation of the upper extremity with special attention to technical considerations and outcomes.

Materials and methods

Between January 1990 and December 2010, 11 patients with a complete amputation of the upper extremity proximal to the wrist were referred for replantations to our department. The patients, one woman and ten men, had a mean age of 43.4 ± 18.2 years (range 19–76 years). There were two elbow, two proximal forearm, four mid-forearm, and three distal forearm amputations. The mechanism of injury was crush in four, crush-avulsion in five and guillotine amputation in two patients. The Chen classification was used to assess the postoperative outcomes. The mean follow-up after macroreplantation was 7.5 ± 6.3 years (range 2–21 years).

Results

All but one were successfully replanted and regained limb function: Chen I in four cases (36 %), Chen II in three cases (27 %), Chen III in two cases (18 %), and Chen IV in one patient (9 %). We discuss the steps of the macroreplantation technique, the need to minimize ischemic time and the risk of ischemia reperfusion injuries.

Conclusion

Thanks to improvements in technique, the indications for limb preservation after amputation can be expanded. However, because of their rarity, replantations should be performed at specialist replantation centers.

Level of evidence: Level IV

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Conflict of interest

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Plastic and Hand Surgery, University of Bern, Inselspital Bern, Freiburgstrasse, 3010, Bern, Switzerland

    Franck Marie Leclère, Lukas Mathys, Bettina Juon, Torsten Franz & Esther Vögelin

  2. Department of Hand Surgery, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Vulpius Klinik, Bad Rappenau, Germany

    Frank Unglaub

Authors
  1. Franck Marie Leclère
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  2. Lukas Mathys
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  3. Bettina Juon
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  4. Torsten Franz
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  5. Frank Unglaub
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  6. Esther Vögelin
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Correspondence to Franck Marie Leclère.

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Leclère, F.M., Mathys, L., Juon, B. et al. Macroreplantations of the upper extremity: a series of 11 patients. Arch Orthop Trauma Surg 132, 1797–1805 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00402-012-1590-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00402-012-1590-8

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