TY - JOUR PY - 1992// TI - A socioeconomic analysis of digital replantations resulting from home use of power tools JO - Journal of hand surgery (American volume) A1 - Lukash, F. N. A1 - Greenberg, B. M. A1 - Gallico, G. G. A1 - Panda, Manjubala A1 - May, J. W. Jr SP - 1042 EP - 1044 VL - 17 IS - 6 N2 - 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

LA - en SN - 0363-5023 UR - http://dx.doi.org/ ID - ref1 ER -