Chen L, Gu J
Department of Orthopedics, Second Affiliated Hospital, Hubei Medical University, Wuhan, People's Republic of China.
Microsurgery. 1996;17(1):48-50. doi: 10.1002/(SICI)1098-2752(1996)17:1<48::AID-MICR9>3.0.CO;2-S.
Injuries resulting in the degloving of digits, particularly the thumb, offer the reconstructive surgeon a significant challenge, as the restoration of both digital function and appearance is often difficult. This paper is a case report describing the successful microvascular replantation of a completely degloved thumb, the result of an avulsion injury caused by a drill. Aspects of the preoperative assessment, the operative procedure and the appropriate sequence of artery and vein repair are discussed.