FUNCTIONAL RESULTS OF THUMB RECONSTRUCTION

Twenty three cases of thumb reconstruction were analysed. Functional results of different methods of reconstruction are compared and discussed. Different injuries and different patients call for different ypes o f reconstruction. The literature of thumb reconstructions, dealing mostly with technical problems, is very much subject to current fashion. Nowadays reconstruction by microvascular techniques i in the limelight, especially transplantation f the second or even the first toe. (Cobbett J. 1969, Littler 1976, Buncke H. J. 1976, O,Brien 1978). The question should be raised whether, older techniques should be relegated to history, and if not, whether there are different indications for different techniques. By analysing our results of thumb reconstructions, we have tried to estimate the merits of three well-known, but completely different techniques and to stimulate reflection on the indications for thumb reconstruction i each individual case. INDICATIONS AND TECHNIQUE One author (K.E.B.) employed microvascular t ansplantation f the second to