Selection of the Anastomotic Artery in Thumb Replantation

Abstract

　We report the selection of the anastomotic artery in 21 cases of thumb replantation. The patients were 20 males and 1 female, and the average age was 46 years. Twenty thumbs (95%) survived.
　In Zone I・II, the radial digital artery was used in all cases as a proximal artery except in one case in which the central artery was anastomosed together. In Zone I・II, the radial digital artery was the first choice in reconstructive artery.
　Among cases where only the radial or ulnar digital artery was able to be reconstructed in Zone III, the ulnar digital artery was used as a proximal artery in 80%.
　Among cases where both the radial and ulnar digital arteries were able to be reconstructed in Zone III, the ulnar digital artery was able to be used as a proximal artery in 89%. In Zone III, the ulnar digital artery was the first choice for an anastomotic artery. In Zone V, the branch of the palmer arch or the dorsal branch of the radial artery was necessary as a reconstructive artery.