Extremity replantations: Possibilities and limitations

Amputated parts of extremities can be replanted under some convenient conditions. Replantations have been done for over four decades. The long way of technological development has been passed and today the great results of recovering are reached. Replantations are challenge with many possibilities, but also with many limitations, because the operation is very complexive. Our research shows that traumatic amputations on extremities in Serbia are mostly caused by circular saw (41%), by ax (14,6%), by shelter (12,5%), by press and in traffic (10,4%), by cable, rope, chain and derrick (9%) and by wedding ring (2,1%). General recovery of replanted fingers, according Tamai criteria, on our clinical material was excellent in 29,8% of cases, good (42,5%), satisfying (22,9%) and bad (4,6%). Every patient was satisfied with operation, according the subjective patients' estimation. During the past decades the huge experience has been collected and various technological development in medicine suggest redefinition of indications and also suggest accepting particular, individual indications in some cases of amputated parts of extremity and replantations.