Severe complex injuries to the upper extremity: revascularization and replantation.

Twenty-nine patients with an incomplete (26) or a complete (3) amputation of the upper extremity proximal to the wrist with revascularization or replantation were reviewed. Limb survival rates were very high (93%) despite the severity of the injuries. All patients regained some useful hand function, with 76% attaining a group I or group II (Chen criteria) functional result. Bone shortening osteotomies are a helpful way to reduce the soft tissue defect size. In contrast to earlier studies, clear correlations between the level of injury, degree of nerve lesion, bone pathology, and the number of major nerves involved, and the functional outcome achieved were not found. There was a weak correlation between the type of wound and the functional recovery ultimately obtained.