Tissue preservation in hand injury: the first step to toe-to-hand transplantation.

The recommendations outlined in this editorial for the initial management of nonreplantable amputation injuries emphasize tissue preservation. This facilitates future toe-to-hand transplantation in terms of reconstructive options, functional and aesthetic outcomes in the hand, and donor-site morbidity in the foot. It is hoped that surgeons involved in the emergency surgical care of such cases will find these guidelines useful. Although tissue conservation is the main goal at this stage of treatment, this should not be at the expense of tissue viability. If in doubt about management issues, advice should be sought from the reconstructive microsurgery unit.