Ectopic Implantation Salvage of the Left Thumb to Reconstruct the Right Thumb After Electrical Injury: A Case Report

Abstract

The incidence rate of electrical injury has remained stable, while the absolute case number has increased. Amputations, erosions, occlusions, and delayed blood vessel rupture are the common complications. Ectopic implantation salvage has been performed widely in mechanical trauma patients, to preserve viable or possibly viable tissues and organ, without application in the electrical injury patients to the best of our knowledge. Here, we present a case report involving ectopic implantation salvage of the left thumb before contralateral transplantation to the right hand after high-voltage electrical injury. The patient’s left thumb remained viable despite necrosis of the left forearm at 3 weeks post-injury. After debridement, we implanted the left thumb to his thigh where it was anastomosed to the lateral circumflex femoral artery’s descending branch and great saphenous vein. We replanted the left thumb on the right hand with fixation 6 weeks later. The reassembled right hand remained well-circulated 11 months post-reconstruction. We believe this case supports broadening the indication for ectopic implantation salvage surgeries to patients who sustain electrical injuries.