[Personal experiences with replantation of fingers in the zone 1 area (fingertips)].

After an amputation of a finger in zone I (up to the root of the nail) replantation with vascular anastomoses is mostly not possible. Therefore, we started to replant such amputates as a composite graft with the same medication as in replantation surgery: 500 cc low molecular dextran for 7 days, 330 mg acetyl-salicylic acid and 75 mg dipyridamol for 14 days usually. In 12 patients we replanted 16 finger- or thumbtips with 12 survivals. We had the best results in clean cut amputations. Concerning the late results we achieved always good sensibility and no evidence of any circulatory disturbance by about 6 months. The replants were useful and not painful. Occasionally we noticed some atrophy. The nail growth was nearly normal if the nail was not destroyed or severely damaged.