A Proposed Programme of Physical Rehabilitation for Patients Undergoing Toe-to-Hand Transfer Operations

Abstract

After the considerable experience of treating 38 patients with toe to hand transplantations, the authors work out a protocol for the rehabilitation, of such patients. Discussions of this nature are not available in the literature. The discussions are preceded by a brief description on the technical details of the surgical procedures. The physical rehabilitation consists of physiotherapy and occupational therapy. The physiotherapist and occupational therapist work in close co-operation in the motor and sensory training of the transplanted toes. They are also concerned with the functional assessments and the evaluations of progress of individual cases. The time taken from the operation to the resumption of work averaged nine months.