One hundred sixty-seven thumb replantations and revascularisations were performed from 1977 to 1987 by the Ljubljana microsurgical team. Early microvascular results of thumb replantations and early reoperations were analysed retrospectively. Age of the patients, level of traumatic amputation, mechanism of injury, use of arterial grafts, severity (total-subtotal) of amputation and occurrence of thrombosis were potential survival factors analysed with logistic regression analysis. The overall success rate for this series was 66% (72% for failures to revascularise excluded). The most frequent cause of failure was venous thrombosis. The most critical time for failure was the first 4 days after the replantation. No microvascular complication occurred later than the seventh day and no reoperation was successful later than the third day after replantation. Survival factors were studied with logistic regression analysis which showed that the model was not statistically significant. However, estimation of relative risks gave us useful but statistically uncertain information regarding the survival factors inspected.

The functional results of 46 patients with isolated thumb replantations and revascularisations were evaluated in the outpatient clinic. The modified system for evaluation of reattached parts proposed by Burton was used. The system for functional evaluation of hands consisted of three major fields: socioeconomic factors, objective assessment and subjective assessment. Certain potential factors which might have influenced the functional results were analysed using Kruskal-Wallis's and Wilcoxon's sum of ranks tests. Level of amputation (P < 0.01) and mechanism of amputation (P < 0.05) significantly influenced the functional result. Age of the patients and severity of amputation (total-subtotal) had no effect on the late results. Thirty-nine patients (85%) had the same employment as before injury. All the patients had economically suitable employment and 31 patients (67%) had the same manual work as before the injury. All but 8 patients experienced cold intolerance. Satisfaction with aesthetic appearance of injured hand differed between sexes: women not being pleased with the sight of their hands in 37% (3/8) and men in 8% (3/38). All patients but one would have the operation again.

To assess the operative blood loss after tangential excision of burn wounds treated by subeschar infiltration of epinephrine solution, the medical records of 85 consecutive patients were analysed retrospectively. All patients were given epinephrine. The median (range) blood loss was 0.9 (0.3 - 4%) of the blood volume of each patient of the body surface excised and grafted (blood loss from donor sites included). Multiple regression analysis showed strong correlation between the blood loss and the extend of the excision (p < 0.001). The correlation between age and blood loss was significant (p < 0.05). Neither the weight of the patients nor the amount of epinephrine injected significantly influenced the amount of blood lost. Operative blood loss was accurately predicted by multiple regression analysis in 62% of cases.

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