ABSTRACT
Replantation and microsurgery is a highly skilled and demanding surgical technique which yields good to excellent outcomes in the hands of experienced and wellequipped surgical teams. Because the procedure is labour intensive and ultimately consumes a large amount of resources, careful selection of cases is needed in order to maximize good outcomes for the benefit of patients. Presentations of amputations have been described in detail to determine the levels and severity (including ring avulsion injuries) of an amputation. These have been done to not only assist in making the right decision of replanting an amputated part, but also to predict future clinical outcomes. A series of protocols and techniques in managing the potential replant patient have been established over the years, detailing the procedure required as soon as an amputation has occurred up to the time of rehabilitation. These methods have been widely accepted and practised in many centres. Detailed preparation and understanding of this information are important to ensure favourable
outcomes. Despite the acclaimed success of replantation procedures, a replanted appendage is expected to have certain long-term limitations and complications, especially cold intolerance of the replanted part, which can make the decision to replant difficult.
