Three-year (2017-2019) activity report of the Replantation Service for hand amputations in Poland

• Authors: Andrzej Żyluk , Anna Chrapusta , Jerzy Jabłecki , Leszek Romanowski , Tomasz Mazurek , Adam Domanasiewicz

Abstracts

EN

This article summarises activity of the Replantation Service for hand amputations in Poland in years 2017-2019. Over this period a total of 551 cases of total and subtotal amputations as well as other complex injuries to the hand were referred to the referenced centres. Of these, 330 referrals were accepted and 221 rejected, for various reasons. Among these accepted, there were 165 total (50%) and 131 subtotal (40%) amputations; 34 patients (10%) had other severe hand injuries. Vast majority of the patients constituted young and middle-age males. The most common was amputation of several digits and thumbs - a total of 251 cases (76%), followed by transmetacarpal - 30 (9%), forearm - 23 (7%) and wrist - 20 (6%) amputations. Replantation of amputated extremity was performed in 138 patients (42%), revascularization in 98 (30%) and in 45 (14%) primary repair of the complex injuries. In 26 cases (8%), coverage of tissue defects was performed, and in 23 (7%) primary terminalization. Survival rate was of a mean of 65% for replantations and 85% for revascularizations. Comparing to the previously reported period 2013-2017, the number of treated patients was similar, but structure of injuries differed: number of digital amputations increased (of 22 cases), whereas number of proximal amputations (hand, forearm and arm) significantly dropped (of 50 cases). The importance of Replantation Service, an informal structure, in saving limbs of severely mutilated patients was emphasised.

Keywords

EN

hand replantation; microsurgery; outcome measurement

• Publisher: Index Copernicus International
• Journal: Polish Journal of Surgery
• Year: 2021
• Volume: 93
• Issue: 2
• Pages: 26-32

Dates

published

2021-03-17

Contributors

author

Andrzej Żyluk

author

Anna Chrapusta

author

Jerzy Jabłecki

author

Leszek Romanowski

author

Tomasz Mazurek

author

Adam Domanasiewicz

Identifiers

DOI

10.5604/01.3001.0014.8089