OBJECTIVETo observe the efficacy of acupuncture on pain after replantation of severed finger.

METHODSA total of 80 patients who underwent replantation of severed finger were randomly divided into an observation group and a control group, 40 cases in each one. The patients in the control group were treated with postoperative routine care of hand surgery, while patients in the observation group, based on the regular treatment, were treated with acupuncture within first 72 h of surgery. The health side of Yanglingquan (GB 34), Xuehai (SP 10), Hegu (LI 4), Houxi (SI 3) were selected and the needles were retained for 30 min. The acupuncture was given for 6 times. The evaluation was performed by using visual analogue scale (VAS) 2 h, 4 h, 6 h, 12 h, 24 h, 48 h and 72 h after surgery. The use of analgesics after surgery was recorded in the two groups, and the blood supply and survival rate of severed finger were evaluated.

RESULTSCompared between the two groups, the VAS 4 h, 6 h, 12 h, 24 h and 48 h after surgery in the observation group was lower than that in the control group (all P<0. 05); the use frequency of analgesics in the observation group was lower than that in the control group (P<0. 05); the abnormality rate of blood supply in the observation group was lower than that in the control group (P<0. 05).

CONCLUSIONAcupuncture can significantly relieve postoperative pain of replantation of severed finger, and reduce the occurrence rate of abnormal blood supply, which is worthy of clinical promotion.

Acupuncture Points ; Acupuncture Therapy ; Adult ; Female ; Finger Injuries ; complications ; surgery ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Pain, Postoperative ; etiology ; therapy ; Replantation

BACKGROUND: Buddy taping is a well known and useful method for treating sprains, dislocations, and other injuries of the fingers or toes. However, the authors have often seen complications associated with buddy taping such as necrosis of the skin, infections, loss of fixation, and limited joint motion. To our knowledge, there are no studies regarding the complications of buddy taping. The purpose of this study was to report the current consensus on treating finger and toe injuries and complications of buddy taping by using a specifically designed questionnaire. METHODS: A questionnaire was designed for this study, which was regarding whether the subjects were prescribed buddy taping to treat finger and toe injuries, reasons for not using it, in what step of injury treatment it was use, indications, complications, kinds of tape for fixation, and special methods for preventing skin injury. Fifty-five surgeons agreed to participate in the study and the survey was performed in a direct interview manner at the annual meetings of the Korean Pediatric Orthopedic Association and Korean Society for Surgery of the Hand, in 2012. RESULTS: Forty-eight surgeons (87%) used buddy taping to treat finger and toe injuries, especially proximal interphalangeal (PIP) injuries of the hand, finger fractures, toe fractures, metacarpophalangeal injuries of the hand, and PIP injuries of the foot. Sixty-five percent of the surgeons experienced low compliance. Forty-five percent of the surgeons observed skin injuries on the adhesive area of the tape, and skin injuries between the injured finger and healthy finger were observed by 45% of the surgeons. CONCLUSIONS: This study sheds light on the current consensus and complications of buddy taping among physicians. Low compliance and skin injury should be considered when the clinician treats finger and toe injuries by using buddy taping.
Adult ; Finger Injuries/*therapy ; Foot Injuries/*therapy ; *Fracture Fixation/adverse effects/methods ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Physicians/statistics & numerical data ; Questionnaires ; Splints/*adverse effects ; Surgical Tape ; Toes/*injuries

Adolescent ; Adult ; Female ; Finger Injuries ; physiopathology ; surgery ; therapy ; Fingers ; physiopathology ; surgery ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Recovery of Function ; Replantation ; Treatment Outcome