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Temporary Ectopic Digital Implantation: A Clinical Series of Eight Digits

From the Institut Aquitain de Chirurgie Plastique, Reconstructrice et Esthétique, Chirurgie de la Main et MicrochirurgiePessac, Bordeaux, France and Service de Chirurgie Plastique et de la Main, Hôpital du Tondu, Place Amélie Raba Léon, Bordeaux, France

Correspondence: Joseph Bakhach, Institut Aquitain de Chirurgie de la Main et du Membre Supérieur, 56 Allée des Tulipes, 33600 Pessac, Bordeaux, France. Tel.:+33 5 56464848; fax: +33 5 56464849. E-mail: joebakhach{at}free.fr.

This paper reports our experience with temporary ectopic digital implantation. Four patients suffered 12 digital amputations with large defect over the proximal stumps. Only 8 digits were suitable for microsurgical salvage but the local conditions made direct replantation impossible. In our first patient, the two digits were ectopically implanted onto the foot, while in the second patient the four amputated digits were implanted onto the opposite forearm. After stump reconstruction, the digits were microsurgically transferred to the hand, restoring a functional pinch. One digit suffered a venous congestion and necrosis in the ectopic site caused by a haematoma and another experienced a no-reflow phenomenon. In conclusion, temporary ectopic implantation remains a procedure that can be used to salvage amputated digits.

Key Words: microsurgery • replantation • digit amputation • ectopic • hand

This version was published on December 1, 2008

Journal of Hand Surgery (European Volume), Vol. 33, No. 6, 717-722 (2008)
DOI: 10.1177/1753193408091429


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