Hand replantation and revascularization--six years experience in Hospital Kuala Lumpur 1990-1995

A retrospective study was conducted in 130 patients who underwent replantation or revascularization of 195 amputations in Hand and Microsurgery Unit Hospital Kuala Lumpur from 1990 to 1995. There were 130 patients with 195 amputations in the duration of 6 years study, which were mainly males (111 patients, 85.4%). The commonest age group involved was 19-25 years old (49 cases, 63.7%). There were 146 complete amputations replanted and 49 cases of incomplete amputations were revascularized. The commonest part involved was thumb and index finger (23% of cases each) and majority was caused by industrial accident (60.8%). However in pediatric age group home accident was the leading cause of the amputation (93.8%). The overall survival rate for the amputation was 65.6%. Revascularization had a better survival rate (77.6%) than replantation (61.6%). A clean cut wound and ischaemic time less than 12 hours gave better survival rate. However, there was no significant different chance of survival on distribution of injured parts and ischaemic time (< 12 hours).