Twelve patients with complete thumb amputations were analyzed to determine the interrelations between thermoregulation for pain and cold intolerance and sensory nerve recovery. Patients were examined at 3 months, 6 months, 1 year, and after 2 years following replantation. Medical thermography was introduced to assess postoperative circulation following digital replantation, while vasomotor tone was assessed by cold-stress plethysmography testing. Postoperative circulation was divided into two different patterns based upon skin temperature, the transition of which over time correlated well with sensory nerve recovery. Patients with cold intolerance showed a persistent vasoconstriction pattern, the cold change of which was objectively detected by thermography.

The purpose of this study is to describe our technique of applying fibrin glue at the microvascular anastomotic site and to evaluate the effect of fibrin glue on anastomotic hemostasis and patency under various high pressure states using dopamine-induced acute hypertension in rats. A total of 72 male Wistar Kyoto rats, 10 weeks old, were used in this study. Under urethane anesthesia, end-to-end anastomosis of the left femoral artery was performed using 10-0 nylon suture by the standard interrupted suture technique. Pasteurized fibrin glue was then topically applied upon the suture line of the anastomosis. Thirty-six normotensive rats were divided into three groups based on the number of sutures (4, 6, or 8) used to complete the anastomosis. Groups were subdivided, half receiving fibrin glue application and half without. Thirty-six dopamine-induced acutely hypertensive rats were divided into three groups based on the blood pressure levels of 150, 200, and 250 mmHg, respectively. These groups were again subdivided, with half receiving glue applications. Microvascular anastomosis was performed using 6 nylon sutures. Patency rates and anastomotic bleeding were evaluated. The results revealed that successful anastomoses could be performed with fewer sutures when fibrin glue was used as a reinforcement at the anastomosis. Fibrin glue was also effective at the maximum blood pressure (250 mmHg) with no anastomotic leakage and no decrease in postoperative patency rate. These results suggest that conventional microsurgical suturing technique combined with fibrin glue would be effective in the prevention of leakage in microsurgical repairs, even under conditions of high blood pressure.

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