Microsurgery in the urgent and emergent management of the hand

Abstract

Appropriate use of microsurgical techniques in the emergency management of injured hands increases the salvage rate of complex upper limb injuries. Over time, the indications for replantation, both major and minor, have expanded and techniques refined to get better functional outcomes. The wide choice of free flaps available has made primary reconstruction possible to obtain a good functional and aesthetic outcome. The benefits microsurgery offers in the emergent management of the injured hand are now firmly established. The challenge is to create and maintain centers which can provide around-the-clock, high quality microsurgery services. The issues of adequate training opportunities, obtaining adequate work load to maintain high skill levels, attracting talent into the field are the challenges faced in maintaining high levels of service. In the developing countries, in addition to these issues, increasing the awareness of the potential of microsurgical services among the medical personal and the public has to be addressed.

Fig. 1

a and b, A near total amputation of the mid forearm in an industrial accident, with devascularized distal segment and the radiograph, (c) the skeletal fixation done, and (e and f), 1 year postoperative result. The patient had a DASH score of 8.4