Citation

Lukash FN, Greenberg BM, Gallico GG, Panda M, May JW. J. Hand Surg. Am. 1992; 17(6): 1042-1044.

Affiliation

Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1992, American Society for Surgery of the Hand, Publisher Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

1430934

Abstract

Forty-seven digits in 21 patients who sustained partial or complete amputations from the home use of power tools were replanted or revascularized during a 1-year period. This represented 69% of the microvascular surgery performed for hand injuries during that year. The cost of repairing an average of 2.4 digits was $7000 (surgeon's fee) plus $697 per hour (operating room fee), as per fiscal year 1987. Postoperative hospitalization averaged 15 days at a cost of $15,679. Hand rehabilitation averaged 8 months at a cost of $3348. Fifty-four percent of the patients had no insurance. Fourteen of 21 patients (67%) required at least one additional procedure. Two patients had to make a career change after the injury. The majority of patients with digital replantations were dissatisfied with the emotional costs and the number of subsequent operations. Lack of patient and family awareness of the length of the rehabilitative period was particularly evident.

Language: en