Ring avulsion injuries: microsurgical management

Abstract

Microsurgical treatment of ring avulsion injuries is often difficult, due to widespread intimal damage of the digital vascular bundles. Thirty-one patients with such injuries in varying degrees were treated during the period 1986 to 1992: of these, 15 underwent microsurgical revascularization. In addition to the traditional procedures applied in seven patients (arteriolysis, direct vessel suture, vein grafts), a technique consisting of vessel transfer from the middle finger was also employed. In five patients, the ulnar digital artery of the middle finger was transferred to the ring finger. In four patients, at least one vein was transferred from the dorsal aspect of the middle finger. Twelve of 15 microreconstructions were successful: with an average follow-up of 48.3 months, these patients showed very good functional (mean total active range of motion: 234 degrees and mean s2PD: 9.8mm) and cosmetic recovery. These results lead to the conclusion that, except for cases characterized by proximal amputation at the flexor superficialis tendon insertion, microsurgical treatment should always be carried out.