Influence of joint injury on motor and functional recovery of finger replantation.

A series of 82 consecutive cases were studied concentrating on the influence of joint injury on the final motor and functional recovery of the successfully replanted or revascularized finger. In this series a 32.0% (41/128) incidence of joint injury was found. When the proximal interphalangeal (PIP) joint was injured and preservation was not possible, arthrodesis was done. This would cause a significantly lower Tamai's score (70.9), total active range of motion (TAM; 99.4 degrees) and TAM-minus the metacarpophalangeal joint TAM-MP; (15.6 degrees). The influence of arthrodesis on the distal interphalangeal (DIP) joint was relatively minor. When preservation of the joint was possible, the PIP arthroplasty group had a significantly higher Tamai's score (83.7, P < 0.01), TAM (157.9 degrees, P < 0.05), and TAM-MP (70.0 degrees, P < 0.001). Preservation of the DIP joint also significantly increased the TAM and TAM-MP degrees, yet with no significant improvement in Tamai's score. Our study proves what most hand surgeons would expect, in that sacrifices of the PIP and MP joint would cause a significantly detrimental effect on the functional recovery of a finger. We also recommend joint preservation during replantation surgery whenever possible, especially for the PIP and MP joints, in order to achieve better functional recovery of the finger.