This article is more than 5 years old. Information may no longer be current.
Flow through one, two repaired veins in single-digit replants linked with better survival
Click Here to Manage Email Alerts
NEW ORLEANS — When hand surgeons repaired either one or two veins in conjunction with single-digit replants, fewer transfusions were required and there was better survivorship of the replants, according to a presenter from NYU Langone Health.
“Our data is consistent with the theory that more veins repaired may be counterintuitive and intraoperative venous outflow is probably more important than quantity. Along those lines, future studies should attempt to assess quality of the repairs, not just the quantity,” Michael T. Milone, MD, said at the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons Annual Meeting, here.
The retrospective study performed by Milone and his colleagues reviewed 54 single-digit replants performed during a 10-year period at their institution. Most of the procedures were for thumb replants (18). Lacerations (38) were the main reason for the replants, according to Milone, who said all replants were done with a single, arterial anastomosis and 44% of them were done with grafts.
“The proximal phalanx was the most common level affected. Nearly 90% of digits had concomitant fractures,” Milone said.
Overall survivorship of the digits studied was 50%.
“The data revealed that digits treated with one or two vein repairs had higher survival rates of 57% and 61% than digits treated without any vein repairs and also digits treated with three veins repaired,” Milone said.
The mean number of transfusions required for one-vein and two-vein repairs were 1.1 and 1.3, respectively. – by Susan M. Rapp
Reference:
Milone MT, et al. Paper #101. Presented at: American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons Annual Meeting; March 6-10, 2018; New Orleans.
Disclosure: Milone reports no relevant financial disclosures.