Treatment introduction
Toe-to-Hand Transplantation is a special microscopic reconstruction surgery. This surgery is to reconstruct hand functional deficits caused by digits deficiency. The deficiencies may come from congenital deficiencies, growth disturbances, or even traumatic amputation. The patient may not grip, oppose, or even maintain normal activities of daily life.
The finger grafts are harvested from a healthy foot and it can provide one or more toe transfers, depending on the extent of deficiencies. The grafts with their supplied nerves, vessels and tendons are then reconstructed to the hand by several microscopic procedures.
After the operation, the patient starts the rehabilitation protocol one month later. The protocols differ dependent on preoperative deficiencies. Most of the patients get satisfying results six months after reconstruction. The patients may grip, oppose, lifting objectives, achieving activities of daily life almost near to pre-injury level.
For cases of pediatric toe transfer, the toes may grow as the child grows. The hand functions will also mature gradually.
Indications
Congenital deficiencies, growth disturbances, traumatic amputation, or previous replantation failure
Features
This surgery is technically demanding with a majority of patients being highly satisfied with the results. Many overseas surgeons come to E-Da Hospital to learn this technique every year because there are few surgeons in the world that can perform this difficult microsurgery.