Sawed Off: Making A Reattached Hand Work -- Research Summary

BACKGROUND: Thousands of Americans face accidental limb amputations yearly, but not all are fortunate enough to have a successful reattachment. Common accidental amputations include; arms, feet, legs, scalps, faces, and fingers. In May 23, 1962, Dr. Ronald A. Malt, a Boston surgeon at Massachusetts General Hospital oversaw the first partial limb reattachment surgery. Prior to this surgery the extent of limb repair was limited to severed arteries, broken bones, or damaged muscle tissue or nerves. Until 1962 doctors had never been able to fully reattach a body part. (SOURCE: health.howstuffworks.com, www.nytimes.com)

CAUSES: Accidental amputations can happen almost anywhere and few are prepared for this kind of injury. Common limb loss occurs during accidents such as automobile crashes, machine malfunctions, falls, natural disasters, demolition of buildings, tree cutting, work and recreational accidents.(SOURCE: www.injury.com)

HOW TO PRESERVE A SEVERED LIMB: If you witness an accidental amputation, the first thing to do is contact emergency services. After calling for help stabilize the victim; try to stop the bleeding, have the person lie down in a comfortable position, and make sure to elevate the body part. The next step is to locate and care for the amputated part; make sure your hands are clean, and gently rinse the amputated body part. Do not scrub the amputated part, wrap the body part in a damp towel and place it inside a bag, place that bag inside a container of ice, but do not allow the amputated part to come in direct contact with the ice, make sure the amputated part is given to emergency personnel so that doctors can attempt to reattach it at the hospital.(SOURCE: www.injury.com)

NEW TREATMENT VS. OLD: Traditional therapies for accidental amputation reattachments involves suturing the tendons together, the problem surgeons have with this is that the sutures do not hold in the tendons and it causes the victim to loose movement in his or her body part. The new Teno fix tendon reattachment system is a breakthrough in the limb reattachment industry because it will allow immediate active motion, no increased work of flexion, it is a mechanical and repeatable repair, and requires minimal tendon handling once inserted.(Source: www.aip.org)

HOW TENO FIXWORKS: Teno Fix uses an innovative soft-tissue anchor system, and a multifilament stainless steel suture. The device places an anchor within proximal and distal segments. Next, the anchors gather tissue as they are placed, harnessing the intrinsic strength of the tendon. Then, the stainless steel suture connects both anchors. The stop beads provide a secure hold for the suture after the suture is inserted through the anchor. After these steps are completed the severed tendon ends are reattached.(SOURCE: www.ortheon.com) MORE

FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT: Hand and Microsurgery Associates
(614) 262-HAND (4263)

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Sawed Off: Making A Reattached Hand Work -- Doctor's In Depth Interview | Medical News and Health Information