In this insightful and personal biographical article, Professor Vilkki recounted his journey from surgical problem to surgical solution. This was an invited article as part of the 2025 FESSH/JHSE Special Issue on ‘Technology and Innovation’. Professor Vilkki attributed his achievements to the influence of mentors, the importance of cadaveric dissections and long years of clinical experience.
HeikelHV.Experimental epiphyseal transplantation. Part 1. Roentgenographic observations on survival and growth of epiphyseal transplants. Acta Orthop Scand. 1960,
29: 257–75.
2.
HellevuoCJokihaaraJKaistilaTLeppänenOVVilkkiSK.Long-term donor site outcome after second toe transfer for congenital hand differencies. J Hand Surg Eur. 2023,
49: 899–90.
3.
NicoladoniC.Daumenplastik und organischer Ersatz des Fingerspitze (Anticheiroplastik und Daktyloplastik. Arch Klin Chir. 1900,
61: 606.
4.
SolonenKVastamäkiMTelarantaTVilkkiSK.Toe to hand transfer. Ann Chir et Gyn. 1982,
71: 28–33.
5.
VilkkiSK.Replantation surgery in Tampere University Hospital 1977–1981. Ann Chir et Gyn Fenniae. 1982a,
71: 8–13.
VilkkiSK. Replantation. Studies on clinical replantation surgery with reference to patient selection, operative techniques and postoperative control. Acta Univ Tamperensis. 1983, Ser. A, vol. 156. Thesis.
8.
VilkkiSK.Freie Zehenubertragung auf den Unterarmsstumpf nach Handgelenk amputation – eine moderne Alternative zur Krukenberg operation. Handchir, Microchir, Plast Chir.1985,
17: 92–7.
9.
VilkkiSK.Advances in microsurgical reconstruction of the congenitally adactylous hand. Clin Ortop.1995,
314: 45–58.
10.
VilkkiSK.Vascularized Joint transfer for radial club hand. Techn Hand Up Extrem Surg. 1998,
2: 126–37.
11.
VilkkiSK.A new concept and technique for custom-made microvascular lunate bone. J Reconstr Microsurg. 2007,
23: 351–9.
12.
VilkkiSK.Vascularized metatarsophalangeal joint transfer for radial hypoplasia. Semin Plast Surg. 2008,
22: 195–212.
13.
VilkkiSKSeverity grading in radial dysplasia. J Hand Surg Eur.2014,
39: 977–83.
14.
VilkkiSK.Distal radio-ulnar joint reconstruction after failed Darrach operation using free autogenous second toe metatarso-phalangeal joint transfer. Development of the technique and a long-term (over 25-year) follow-up. Injury2021,
52: 3691–6.
15.
VilkkiSKKotkansaloT.Present technique and long-term results of toe-to antebrachial stump transplantation. J Plast Reconstruct Aesthetic Surg. 2007,
60: 835–48.
16.
VilkkiSKSalonenEJ.Experimental models for microsurgical joint reconstruction in the upper extremity. Ann Acad Med Singapore. 1995,
24(Suppl): 58–62.
17.
VilkkiSKPaavilainenP.Vascularized second metatarsophalangeal joint transfer for radial deficiency – an update. J Hand Surg Eur. 2018,
43: 907–18.
