Turkish Journal of
GERIATRICS

Akdeniz Üniversitesi Hastanesi Plastik ve Rekonstrüktif Cerrahi Anabilim Dalı, ANTALYA There is no doubt that re-attachment of the amputated part to its original location represents the pinnacle of reconstructive surgery, both functionally and esthetically. Despite the pessimistic opinions for elderly patients that have poor potential of recovery, in replanted parts compared to younger patients, the unique speciality of the replantation procedure leads to improved quality of life by preserving the functional properties of the limb and enabling acceptable aesthetic appearance. As microsurgery advances, replantation of the amputated part -even in elderly patients- has become the first reconstructive method of choice over other conventional techniques such as stump revisions with regional or distant flaps. Although the replantation of common amputations is routinely performed in most microsurgical centers worldwide, replantation in the case of thumb amputation may be more demanding, and probably offers the best functional return. In this report, we present our experience with a successful replantation of an amputated thumb in a 74-year-old man. The difficult nature of replantation in elderly patients, and the reliability and advantages of the procedure were discussed. Keywords : Elderly patient, Thumb, Replantation