Background: Although it is not possible always, reconstruction of defects with tissue such as defect in the
original tissue usually results in best functions and esthetic outcomes. Therefore, replantation of an
amputated part is superior to any other method of reconstruction mainly when the condition of the
amputated part is good. The goal of replantation after amputation is function. Returning of circulation to
an amputated part does not, by itself, mean success. Therefore, replantation that will not lead to a useful
activity should be avoided. This is usually the case with severely crushed and extensively avulsed limbs.
Objectives: evaluation of functions’ outcome after replantation.
Patients and Methods: This study deals with 18 patients (14 males, 4 females) with different injuries.
Severely crushed and extensively avulsed limbs have been excluded from repair. The level of injury involved
an arm in two patients, an elbow in one, a forearm in two, a palm in two, a thumb in two, and fingers in
nine. The patients’ age ranged between 2 and 55 years, during the period between January 2012 and
February 2016.
Results: In all the cases, replantation of the amputated part was successful; however, there were
variations in functional recovery among the cases: in three cases, the functional recovery was very good, in
five, it was good, in eight, it was fair, and in two, it was poor.
Conclusions: Replantation should be tried for most amputation cases, as it has a superior aesthetic and
functional result and serves a major psychological benefit for the patients. High success in a rat can be
achieved when one chooses to replant an amputated part in good condition, all the structures are repaired
at the time of the primary operation, and there exist excellent post-surgery physiotherapy and good patient
compliance.
Keywords: Replantation; amputation; vascular repair, limb trauma, revascularization, microsurgery.