[Free contralateral index finger pollicization].

A mutilating explosion injury of a dominant hand with amputation of thumb and index rays, loss of middle and ring fingers, and amputation through the proximal phalanx of the small finger was treated in four stages. The main step of functional restoration consisted in microsurgical transfer of the contralateral index ray for reconstruction of the thumb. Utilizing the principles of pollicization, pinch and grasp of wide amplitude were successfully restored. The rationale of this unusual plan of reconstruction is explained.