Fingertip Replantation with the Use of a Long Vein Graft: Training Young Surgeons in a Feasible Technique to Maintain Optimal Results

Digital replantation using microsurgery has progressed remarkably since the first thumb replantation report by Komatsu and Tamai in 1968.1 It is now a common hand surgery procedure, and even fingertips are replanted with high success rates between 70 and 90%.2–7 A systematic review in 2011 found good outcomes in terms of both the success rate and postoperative function.8 In many reports, the successful fingertip replantations are those performed by well-experienced surgeons.4 However, younger surgeons should be trained in operative techniques for fingertip replantation, as most severed fingers are replanted in an emergency setting where expert microsurgeons may not always be present. Therefore, we retrospectively investigated the fingertip replantation cases in our hospital that were performed by young surgeons who were instructed by one experienced surgeon (T.S.). We found that a procedure using a long vein graft produced better results even for young surgeons.