Main Article Content

Authors

Background: The toe to hand transplantation is a method of reconstruction on the unique or multiple amputations of the fingers. It can be used the whole toe or with certain modifications as a wrap-around flap from the big toe or fingertip. It is a widely accepted option for the thumb.


Methods: It is a series of patients with amputation of one or more fingers of the hand were operated with second toe-to-hand transplantation. The survival was evaluated, and the sensory recovery by 2-point discrimination.


Results: We practiced 12 transplants, 8 thumb, and 4 in other fingers. Ten were adults and 2 children. All transplants survived. Two patients required tenolysis flexor. The sensibility was recovered with good 2-point discrimination of 8 mm.


Discussion: In the more proximal finger amputations, a second toe is the most appropriate, with lower morbidity of the donor site. The rates of success are  between 95 to 100%. We had a success rate of 100%. The resulting defect is in the foot is minimum when the second toe was used. The decision to use one of these techniques depends on the decision and transplant surgeon training. We always used the second toe for transfers to the hand, considering that it will be thinner than the original thumb; our patients had no complaint about the appearance.


Conclusion: Toe-to-hand transplantation is a good technique, providing a very good aesthetic appearance and allowing the recovery of sensitivity. The defect that is created in the foot does not produce significant aesthetic and functional alterations

Enrique Vergara Amador, Universidad Nacional de Colombia. Bogotá, Colombia

Profesor de Ortopedia y Traumatología. Cirugía de mano y microcirugía

Gu YD, Cheng DS, Zhang GM, Chen XM, Xu JG. Long term

results of toe transferretrospective analysis. J Reconstr Microsurg.

; 13: 405–408.

Lutz BS, Wei FC. Basic principles on toe-to-hand transplantation.

Chang Gung Med J. 2002; 25: 568–576.

Lin PY, Sebastin SJ, Ono S, Bellfi LT, Chang KW, Chung KC. A

systematic review of outcomes of toe-to-thumb transfers for isolated

traumatic thumb amputation. Hand. 2011; 6: 235–43. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11552-011-9340-x

Bunke HJ, Bunke CM, Schulz WP. Immediate Nicoladoni

procedure in Rhesus monkey hallux-to-hand transplantation

utilizing microminiature anastomosis. Br J Plast Surg. 1966; 19:

–7.

Cobbett JR. Free digital transferreport of a case of transfer of a

great toe to replace an amputated thumb. J Bone Joint Surg Br. 1969;

: 677–9.

Dongyue Y, Gu YD. Thumb reconstruction utilizing second toe

transplantation by microvascular anastomosisreport of 78 cases.

Chin Med J. 1979; 92: 295–309.

Morrison WA, O'Brien BM, MacLeod AM. Thumb reconstruction

with a free neurovascular wrap-around flap from the big toe. J Hand

Surg Am. 1980; 5: 575–83.

Foucher G, Norris RW. The dorsal approach in harvesting the

second Toe. J Reconstr Microsurg. 1988; 4: 185–7. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1055/s-2007-1006918

Vergara-Amador E. Reconstrucción microquirúrgica de la mano

con transferencia de los dedos del pie. Rev Col Ortop Traum. 2004;

: 43–50.

Van Holder C, Giele H, Gilbert A. Double second toe transfer in

congenital hand anomalies. J Hand Surg Br. 1999; 24: 471–5. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1054/JHSB.1999.0162

Foucher G, Nagel D, Briand E. Microvascular great toenail

transfer after conventional thumb reconstruction. Plast Reconstr

Surg. 1999; 103: 570–6. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1097/00006534-199902000-00032

Foucher G, Nagel D. "Custom-made" toe transfer for partial

thumb amputation. Tech Hand Up Extrem Surg. 1998; 2(3): 210–20. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1097/00130911-199809000-00010

Woo SH, Lee GJ, Kim KC, Ha SH, Kim JS. Cosmetic

reconstruction of distal finger absence with partial second toe

transfer. J Plast Reconstr Aesthet Surg. 2006; 59(4): 317–24.

Gilbert A. Landi A. Reconstruction of the Thumb. London:

Chapman and Hall; 1989. Vascular anatomy of the first web space

of the foot; pp. 205.

Martínez VG, García JG. The arterial system of the first

intermetatarsal space and its influence in toe-to-hand transfera

report of 53 long-pedicle transfers. J Hand Surg Br. 2002; 27(1):73–7. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1054/JHSB.2001.0659

Wei FC, El-Gammal TA. Toe-to-hand transferCurrent concepts,

techniques, and research. Clin Plast Surg. 1996; 23: 103–16.

Vergara Amador, E. (2015). Second toe-to-hand transfer. A surgical option for amputations in the hand. Colombia Medica, 46(2), 71–74. https://doi.org/10.25100/cm.v46i2.1551

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.