50+ years of replantation surgery experience: are we progressing or regressing?

Abstract

The first successful digit replantation was reported in 1965 and accepted enthusiastically by hand surgeons. The decade that immediately followed saw a surge of interest in this complex surgery, fueling significant improvements in success rates and the rise of hand and microsurgeons who were highly proficient in replantation. The decades that followed, however, showed a stable field lacking any significant changes or advancements. More recently, and especially in the United States, the frequency with which surgeons even attempt replantation and the rate of survival have plummeted. If this trend continues, successful replantation surgery will become all too rare of an event. It is critical that we evaluate the state of replantation surgery today, identify the primary causes, and work to not only revive the field but allow it to advance similar to other areas of medicine.

Keywords

Digit / replantation / amputation / hand surgery / microsurgery

References

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