What is it about ?
An extremity (finger, toe, nose, etc.) or another part of the body can be torn off (partially or completely) as a result of trauma (amputation). Reattaching this amputated part to the body is called a reimplantation.
What can you do ?
Take the victim to hospital as quickly as possible in your own vehicle or, in the case of more serious injuries, by ambulance. Try to stop the bleeding from the injury site by using a compressive bandage. Lift the affected limb (arm, leg). Gather the amputated body parts and wrap them in a clean, damp cloth or gauze pad. Then place everything in a closed plastic bag, which you put in ice; Carry it in a dry, clean and waterproof bag. Avoid direct contact of the amputated limb with ice (freezing), immersion in water (softening) or drying out. Always bring all amputated limbs together, no matter how small or how dirty they are.
Time is essential: the blood supply to amputated parts which contain muscle must be restored within 8 hours of the trauma, that of other tissues within +/- 16 hours. If the amputated parts have not been properly cooled, transported or stored, less time is available!
What can your doctor do?
In the emergency department, the doctor first checks the general condition of the person. The amputation may have caused so much bleeding that the person may go into shock. As this situation can be life-threatening, treatment for this state of shock is more important than eventual reimplantation. Next, the doctor inspects the stump and the amputated part of the body. If necessary, he performs additional imaging tests (such as an x-ray).
The medical team then decides, together with the victim, whether or not a reimplantation is indicated. Various parameters are taken into account, such as the size of the limb of the amputated body, the functional recovery that can be expected and the age. Amputations in children or the amputation of one thumb, two or more fingers, or the amputation of the nose are examples in which reimplantation is generally accepted. The surgeon tries to collect all the bones, blood vessels, nerves, etc. as much as possible.
Relocations have an 85% success rate. This percentage depends on a number of factors, including the type of trauma. 70% of victims can make full use of the re-implanted body member again. Two out of three people have a hard time with the cold, two out of 10 people sometimes feel pain.
Intensive physiotherapy is necessary for several months after the reimplantation.
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