Replantation of fingers, hands, and parts thereof; reconstructive surgery

Sewing on body parts – 24 hours

The Latvian Microsurgery Center is the only place in Latvia where 24-hour assistance is available in cases of amputation of the hand, fingers, or other body parts. The decision regarding the possibility of reattaching (replanting) a finger, hand, or arm is usually made by the plastic surgeon on duty.

Replantation of a severed finger can be performed even after 10–12 hours; a severed hand must be reattached within 6 hours, and a severed upper arm within 3–4 hours. If the severed body part has been properly cooled, replantation can be performed even after a longer period of time.

How to Transport a Body Part to the Hospital

To successfully transport the amputated body part to the hospital, follow these simple steps: locate the amputated body part; wrap it in a clean cloth; place it in a plastic bag; place everything in a rigid container or a bag filled with water containing ice cubes; and do not forget to take the amputated body part with you to the medical facility.

It is important to assess the feasibility of replanting

It is not possible to reattach (sew back on) completely severed arms or parts of fingers. Therefore, primary care and emergency medical personnel must use their expertise and knowledge to determine whether the amputated part can be considered viable tissue. For example, a finger that has been amputated at multiple levels or caught in a meat grinder cannot be reattached.

The operation is successful even in 80% cases

If the reattachment—or replantation—of a hand or finger is technically feasible, it is successful in 60–80% of cases, depending on the body part and the severity of the injury. If the patient is a smoker, the chances of successfully reattaching the amputated body part are minimal due to radically impaired blood circulation in the body’s periphery.