Estudo quantitativo, descritivo e retrospectivo de internações hospitalares de pacientes com e sem o diagnóstico de diabetes submetidos a amputação não traumática de extremidades inferiores, no período de 2001 a 2008, em Ribeirão Preto - SP - Brasil. Este estudo teve como objetivos caracterizar as internações hospitalares de pacientes com e sem o diagnóstico de diabetes mellitus submetidos a amputação não traumática de extremidades inferiores segundo sexo, idade, período da internação hospitalar, tipo de atendimento e condições da alta; relacionar as internações hospitalares com as variáveis tipo de alta e atendimento, sexo, idade e tempo de internação, e analisar a tendência das internações hospitalares em Ribeirão Preto-SP, no período de 2001-2008. Utilizaram-se dados de fonte secundária de internações hospitalares, do Sistema de Informações do Centro de Processamento de Dados Hospitalares. Os resultados mostraram que das 2296 internações hospitalares relacionadas ao procedimento de amputação não traumática de extremidades inferiores, 954 (41,6%) tinham o diagnóstico de diabetes mellitus. A maioria (58,7%) é do sexo masculino; idade média de 63,9 anos; 54,8% residiam em Ribeirão Preto-SP e 72,6% receberam assistência hospitalar pelo Sistema Único de Saúde. O tempo de internação hospitalar variou de 0 a 128 dias, média de 9,9 dias. A taxa de reinternações foi de 12,7% e de óbito 7,9%. A tendência de internações hospitalares não obedece a um padrão regular e o modelo de regressão linear ajustado para verificar a existência de tendência não mostrou significância estatística. O teste Qui-quadrado apresentou significância estatística, p-valor < 0,001, para variável sexo e o teste de Mann-Whitney mostrou significância estatística p-valor <0,001 para o tempo de internação hospitalar. Esses resultados apontam a importância de reforçar as ações de educação aos pacientes com diabetes mellitus com vistas à prevenção de amputações como desfecho da doença / Quantitative, descriptive and retrospective study of hospital admissions of patients with and without a diagnosis of diabetes mellitus undergoing non-traumatic amputation of the lower extremities, in the period from 2001 to 2008 in Ribeirão Preto - SP - Brazil. This study aimed to characterize the hospital admissions of patients with and without a diagnosis of diabetes undergoing non-traumatic amputation of lower extremities by sex, age, hospitalization time, type of care and discharge conditions; relate the hospitalizations with the variable type of discharge and attendance, sex, age and hospitalization time and analyze the tendency of hospital admissions in Ribeirão Preto-SP, in the period from 2001 to 2008. Source of data were used secondary hospitalizations, from the National Hospital Data Processing Center Information. Of 2296 hospital admissions related to non-traumatic amputation procedure of the lower extremities, 954 (41.6%) had a diagnosis of diabetes mellitus, most (58.7%) were male, mean age 63.9 years. 54.8% live in Ribeirão Preto-SP, 72.6% received hospital care by SUS, hospital stay ranging from 0 to 128 days, an average of 9.9 days. The readmission rate was 12.7% and 7.9% died. The trend of hospitalizations did not follow a regular pattern and the linear regression model adjusted to check the trend was not statistically significant.The chi-square test was statistically significant, p <0.001, for gender variable and the Mann-Whitney test revealed statistically significant p-value <0.001 for the variable hospital stay. These results show the importance of strengthening education activities to patients with diabetes in order to prevent amputations as the outcome of the disease

Este estudo avalia a qualidade de vida de sujeitos acometidos por tumores musculoesqueléticos de membros inferiores, submetidos a cirurgias de ressecção, com salvamento de membro ou amputação. A casuística foi composta por 56 sujeitos, avaliados no período de 14 meses (agosto de 2011 a setembro de 2012), que foram divididos em três grupos: 1- 12 amputados; 2- 16 em pós-operatório de salvamento do membro (colocação de endoprótese ou reconstrução biológica); 3- sujeitos saudáveis (sem diagnóstico de câncer), selecionados entre a população em geral, de forma pareada com os outros grupos, segundo sexo, idade, escolaridade e condição socioeconômica. Além do Critério de Classificação Econômica Brasil (2010), foram aplicados dois protocolos de avaliação, um de qualidade de vida (Medical Outcomes Study 36 - Item Short-Form Health Survey - SF-36) e o outro de capacidade funcional (Toronto Extremity Salvage Score - TESS), ambos adaptados culturalmente e validados no Brasil. Os dados foram estatisticamente analisados, conforme preconizado por cada protocolo. Os resultados indicaram que ambos os tipos de abordagem cirúrgica (amputação ou reconstrução) produziram prejuízos na capacidade funcional e na qualidade de vida dos sujeitos acometidos por tumores musculoesqueléticos, quando comparados à população saudável. Diferentemente do que apontaram outros trabalhos internacionais com casuística semelhante, os sujeitos submetidos a amputações apresentaram resultados melhores relacionados à sua capacidade funcional e à qualidade de vida, na maioria dos domínios do SF36 e com relevância estatística (p=0,001) no escore final do TESS, do que aqueles submetidos a técnicas de salvamento de membro. Por fim, é importante analisar a percepção dos sujeitos sobre sua funcionalidade e qualidade de vida, de modo a encontrar caminhos mais adequados no processo de reabilitação desta população. / This study appraises the quality of life of individuals with musculoskeletal tumors in lower extremities, undergoing resection surgeries with extremity salvage or amputation. The casuistry was composed by 56 subjects assessed in the course of 14 months (from August, 2001 to September, 2012), who were divided into 3 groups: 1- 12 amputated; 2- 16 in postsurgical extremity salvage (endoprosthesis implant or biological reconstruction); 3- healthy subjects (without cancer diagnosis), selected from the whole population, paired off with other groups, according to sex, age, schooling and socioeconomic status. Besides the Critério de Classificação Econômica Brasil (2010), two assessment protocols were applied, one about quality of life (Medical Outcomes Study 36 - Item Short-Form Health Survey - SF-36), and the other one about functional capacity (Toronto Extremity Salvage Score - TESS), both culturally adapted and validated in Brazil. The data were statistically analyzed according to what each protocol proclaims. The results revealed that both surgical approach types (amputation or reconstruction) caused harm to the functional capacity and to the quality of life of the subjects suffering from musculoskeletal tumors, when compared to the healthy population. Unlike what other international papers with similar casuistry have shown, the subjects undergoing amputation presented better results related to their functional capacity and quality of life, in the majority of the domains of SF36, with statistical relevance (p=0.001), than those submitted to the techniques of extremity salvage. Finally, it is important to analyze the subjects\' perception on their functionality and quality of life in order to discover the most suitable ways in the process of rehabilitating this population.

A caminhada humana é um movimento importante utilizado pelo homem, porém extremamente complexo em relação aos mecanismos energéticos e mecânicos que geram este movimento. O custo energético é maior na caminhada de amputados quando comparada a caminhada de indivíduos sem restrições físicas. Variáveis mecânicas e energéticas de amputados não foram extensivamente estudadas. Nosso objetivo foi avaliar a influência de diferentes velocidades, no recovery, no custo de transporte (C), na eficiência mecânica (Eff), na transdução pendular (Rint), trabalho mecânico, na estabilidade dinâmica, bem como verificar a associação entre a estabilidade dinâmica com recovery, custo de transporte e eficiência mecânica. Participaram do estudo 10 indivíduos amputados transfemurais (com joelho hidráulico e pé em fibra de carbono). Foi realizada cinemetria 3D (quatro câmeras de vídeo) e simultaneamente a análise do consumo de oxigênio. Foram determinadas cinco velocidades de caminhada, após definir a velocidade auto selecionada. Além da velocidade auto selecionada foram definidas duas velocidades acima e abaixo das VAS. Para os dados de Recovery, custo de transporte, eficiência mecânica, transdução pendular, trabalho total, trabalho externo, travalho vertical, trabalho horizontal, trabalho interno e estabilidade dinâmica foram utilizadas rotinas desenvolvidas em Matlab®. A velocidade influencia nos parâmetros mecânicos e energéticos da caminhada de amputados transfemurais. Os maiores valores para: economia de caminhada, Recovery, transdução pendular, eficiência mecânica, trabalho mecânico interno e vertical, e estabilidade dinâmica foram obtidos na máxima velocidade de caminhada dos sujeitos. As correlações entre o coeficiente de variação do comprimento da passada e Recovery, custo de transporte e potência metabólica foram moderadas. Esses resultados são de grande relevância para a área clínica e ponderados durante o processo de reabilitação desses indivíduos. / The human walking is an important movement used by man, but extremely complex in relation to the energetic and mechanical mechanisms that generate this movement. The energy cost of gait is greater in amputees than in normal subjects. Mechanical and energetics variables in amputees have not been extensively studied. Our objective was to assess the influence of speed in recovery, cost of transport (C), mechanical efficiency (Eff), pendular transduction (Rint), mechanic parameters, dynamical stability, well as to verify agreement between dynamical stability with recovery, C, Eff and metabolic power. Materials and Methods: ten transfemoral amputees (with hydraulic knee and carbon fiber foot) were selected in the study. Simultaneously three-dimensional (3D) kinematics data (four cameras) and oxygen consumption were collected at five speeds, two above and two below self-select one. The Recovery, C, Eff, Rint, dynamical stability, were processed using Matlab software. Mechanics and energetics of amputee walking were influenced by speed. In maximal speed of amputee walking were reported greatest values, like: recovery, cost of transport (C), mechanical efficiency (Eff), pendular transduction (Rint), internal and vertical mechanical work and dynamical stability. Pearson correlation between dynamical stability and Recovery, C, Eff and metabolic power were moderate. These results are clinical relevance and should be considered during the rehabilitation of these individuals.

The loss of a hand or arm is a devastating life event that results in many months of healing and challenging rehabilitation. Technology has allowed the development of an electronic replacement for a lost limb but similar advancements in therapy have not occurred. The situation is made more challenging because people with amputations often do not live near specialized rehabilitation centres. As a result, delays in therapy can worsen common complications like nerve pain and joint stiffness. For children born without a limb, poor compliance with the use of their prosthesis leads to delays in therapy and may affect their development. In many parts of the world, amputation rehabilitation does not exist. Fortunately, we live in an age where advances in technology and engineering can help solve these problems. Virtual reality creates a simulated world or environment through computer animation much like what is seen in modern video games. An experienced team of rehabilitation doctors, therapists, engineers and computer scientists are required to realize a system such as this. A person with an amputation will be taught to control objects in the virtual world by wearing a modified electronic prosthesis. Using computers, it will be possible to analyze his or her movements within the virtual world and improve the wearer's skills. The goals of this system include making the system portable and internet compatible so that people living in remote areas can also receive therapy. The novel approach of using virtual reality to rehabilitate people with upper limb amputations will help them return to normal activities by providing modern and appropriate rehabilitation, reducing medical complications, improving motivation (via gaming modules), advancing health care technology and reducing health care costs. The use of virtual reality technology in the field of amputee rehabilitation is in its earliest stages of development world wide. A virtual environment (VE) will facilitate the early rehabilitation of a patient before they are clinically ready to be fitted with an actual prosthesis. In order to create a successful virtual reality rehabilitation system such as this, an accurate method of tracking the arm in real-time is necessary. A linear displacement sensor and a microelectromechanical system (MEMS) inertial measurement unit (IMU) were used to create a device for capturing the motion of a user's movement with the intent that the data provided by the device be used along with a VE as a virtual rehabilitation tool for new upper extremity amputation patients. This thesis focuses on the design and testing of this motion capture device in order to determine the suitability of current commercially available sensing components as used in this system. Success will be defined by the delivery of accurate position and orientation data from the device so that that data can be used in a virtual environment. Test results show that with current MEMS sensors, the error introduced by double integrating acceleration data is too significant to make an IMU an acceptable choice for position tracking. However, the device designed here has proven to be an excellent cable emulator, and would be well suited if used as an orientation tracker.

Extensive research has documented the stereotypical kinematic and kinetic patterns in healthy human walking, but we have a limited understanding of the neuromechanical control principles that contribute to their execution. Furthermore, the strategies used to adapt human walking to morphological or environmental constraints are poorly understood. After a traumatic injury, like amputation, regaining independent mobility is a primary goal of rehabilitation. Without a clear understanding of the neuromechanical principles governing locomotion, monitoring and quantitatively improving gait rehabilitation outcomes is challenging. The purpose of this doctoral work was to identify controlled variables in able and impaired human walking and to compare the control strategies used to adapt to a novel walking environment both with and without amputation. I apply an uncontrolled manifold (UCM) analysis to test whether likely goal variables of human walking are selectively stabilized through step-to-step variability structure. I found that both able-bodied subjects and subjects with an amputation maintain consistent whole body dynamics and leg power production by exploiting inherent motor abundance. Consistent leg power production is accomplished primarily through step-to-step leg force corrections that are driven by variable timing of ankle torque production. Covariance between ankle and knee torques enable robust motor control in able-bodied individuals, but this stabilizing mechanism is absent in individuals with a transtibial amputation. This coordinated joint torque control also appears to assist able-bodied short-term adaptation, invoked by split-belt treadmill walking. However, loss of ankle motor control and distal sensory feedback due to amputation appears to limit reactive, feedback driven adaptation patterns in subjects with an amputation. Ultimately, this work highlights the role of intact distal sensorimotor function in locomotor control and adaptation. The major findings I present have substantial implications for gait rehabilitation and prosthetic design.

Les personnes amputées de membre inférieur (PAMI) sont très diversifiées. Ils'agit d'une population hétérogène, tant par ses origines que par ses niveaux d'amputation, ses capacités et ses projets de vie. A ces profils variés s'ajoutent une multitude de composants prothétiques ainsi que les différentes combinaisons possibles entre ces composants. Il est également important de prendre en compte les différents environnements auxquels la PAMI est confrontée quotidiennement. La Classification Internationale du Fonctionnement (CIF 2001) a été créée par l'Organisation Mondiale de la Santé et repose sur un modèle multidimensionnel. Elle est constituée de deux grandes parties : le fonctionnement d'une part et les facteurs contextuels d'autre part. Ce modèle est capable de décrire de manière globale les modifications de fonctionnement (handicap) à partir d'un problème de santé quelconque. Ainsi, une grande quantité d'informations peut être obtenues à partir du modèle de la CIF. Néanmoins, il demeure nécessaire de développer de nouveaux outils pour mieux exploiter ce modèle afin de le rendre plus intelligible et utilisable en pratique clinique courante. Pour cela, nous nous proposons d'utiliser l'Extraction de Connaissances à partir des Données (ECD). L'ECD est un processus non trivial d'identification des structures inconnues, valide et potentiellement exploitable dans les bases de données, qui permet de transformer un maximum d'informations en connaissances facilement exploitables. A partir du modèle de la CIF et conjointement avec des méthodes d'ECD, l'objectif de cette thèse est de caractériser un groupe de PAMI expertes en termes de capacités locomotrices. Ce groupe et sa liste d'indicateurs pertinents reposant sur le modèle de la CIF ont été déterminés. Ils servent de référence pour la comparaison d'autres PAMI et peuvent guider la prise en charge de cette population particulière.

In Sweden there are 560 000 disabled people over the age of 16, half of those are in use of some kind of mobility device. Living with a disability means that due to injury or illness you are having trouble functioning without devices or assistance in your daily life and has a big impact on the independence of the disabled user. The everyday life for disabled parents with young children are different depending on the type of disability and mobility device. Today there is no alternative to the stroller for the disabled user who use mobility advises. This causes problems when the disabled person on there own have/want to move the child. The following statement have been the cornerstone for this project: How to make it possible for a wheelchair user to move a child, in the 0-2 year, for longer distances with a focus on independence and safety for both adult children? Due the process, of industrial design, this question and problem have been solved during 10 weeks. The process have contained parts as meeting with users, analyzing, concept development, evaluations, mock-up making, testing, shape &amp; color development etc. This in the end have resulted in a full scale model of the appearance of a proposed product. The result is a stroller witch can be connected to the users specific wheelchair due two one time adjustments. The solution gives the user capability to move and steer the wheelchair and stroller at the same time. It also gives the user free space in the lap and avoid labor on the users body. The solution is mainly solving the problems of moving an infant, but is working as good for moving children up to two years old. The stroller and wheelchair creates a tandem witch have a breaking point in between the products. This makes it possible to move over smaller curbs by pulling the adjustable handle on stroller. The stroller can also be used separately due two extendible rear wheels. This makes it possible for a walking partner to use the same stroller and fits better for a indoor use for the disabled user. A product like this would give the chance to the wheelchair users to be more involved in there childs first years. It would be one step further to an independent life and hopefully bring a scoop of confidence. I see this product as one of many that could be developed and help in a disabled persons everyday life. By bringing this subject to the table I hope that more people become aware of this users situation and may also see the opportunities developing product and devices in this subject.

Transcutaneous oxygen pressure measurement (TCp02) using a miniaturised Clarke electrode and a heating thermistor was developed independently by Huch et al and Eberhardt et al in 1972. After its initial use to non invasively monitor arterial partial pressure (Pa02) in neonates it was proposed as a useful test of skin blood flow and possibly amputation wound healing level selection in patients with peripheral vascular disease. Unfortunately a wide range of predictive values emerged with some authors reporting amputations healing when the TCp02 value was 0 mmHg. The investigation, while still considered useful, has not gained widespread support. This study investigates the use of TCp02, establishes a value for the use of the TCp02 Index to predict amputation wound healing potential and examines the hypothesis that the use of the TcpO Index to select amputation level can reduce patient morbidity and mortality. The literature is reviewed and a series of studies evaluating TCp02 use, undertaken in the Durban Metropolitan Vascular Service Non-Invasive Laboratories, are presented. TCp02 measurements were performed in a standardised manner with the subject supine breathing room air. Measurements were taken at fixed sites, on the mid dorsum of the foot (Foot), 10 cm distal to the tibial tuberosity and 2 cm lateral to the anterior tibial margin (BKA), 10 cm proximal to the patella in the midline (AKA) and on the chest in the mid-clavicular line. A TCp02 Index, the limb to chest ratio was defined. TCp02 data derived from control subjects asymptomatic of peripheral vascular disease were shown to be similar to age matched pooled data derived from the literature. In patients with peripheral vascular disease, absolute TCp02 and the TCp02 Index were shown to fall from proximal to distal sites and again were no different to pooled data derived from the literature. Based on presenting symptoms, the fall in TCp02 and the TCp02 Index was significant from proximal to distal sites. The reduction in absolute TCp02 and the TCp02 was also related to the most distal pulse present. TCp02 values were found to be no different in patients with peripheral vascular disease with or without diabetes. When comparing TCp02 and the TCp02 Index with Doppler pressure measurements at the Popliteal artery and at the foot, and the Doppler ankle brachial index (ABI), Doppler derived data were significantly higher in diabetic patients than in non-diabetic patients. No differences were noted in TCp02 data. TCp02 was compared with the 133Xe radio-isotope skin washout test. The best correlation was (r = 0.46) was obtained with a logarithmic curve y = 10.862Ln(x) + 38.751. TCp02 was compared with antibiotic concentrations (Cefoxitin) in muscle obtained from the site of amputation and the Cefoxitin Index, the ratio of muscle antibiotic concentration to plasma concentration, as an indication of the relationship of skin TCp02 to muscle blood flow. A significant correlation was shown between the Cefoxitin Index and TCp02 (r = 0.67, p = 0.035) and the TCp02 Index (r = 0.64, P = 0.045), suggesting that skin oxygen delivery may reflect muscle antibiotic delivery and hence blood flow. TCp02 and the TCp02 Index were compared with heated and unheated laser Doppler fluxmetry (LDF) in 35 patients undergoing amputation wound healing assessment. Significant correlations were shown between heated LDF, heated LDF Index and the TCp02 Index (r = 0.63 and r = 0.69, P < 0.0001). TCp02 Index values of 0.5 and 0.55 showed an accuracy of 96.2 % in predicting amputation outcome while LDF values of 3, 4 and 5 arbitrary units gave an accuracy of 88.5 %. Using receiver operator curves, a TCp02 Index of 0.55 was shown to be the best test. Over the years 1987 and 1988, TCp02 data were gathered on 193 patients undergoing lower limb amputation for peripheral vascular disease. Information on the outcome of the amputation was available for 152 amputations. Circumstances which might result in a reduced pre-operative TCp02 reading were identified and criteria were set for the use of TCp02 to predict amputation wound healing potential. 122 amputations which met the defined entry criteria were available for evaluation. A TCp02 Index of 0.50 gave a definitive predictive value below which no amputation healed. Similarly no amputation with an absolute TCp02 of less than 27 mmHg healed. Receiver operator characteristic curves showed the TCp02 Index to be a better test than absolute TCp02. A TCp02 Index of 0.55 was shown to have the best sensitivity of96.7 %, with a specificity of79.8 % and an accuracy of 90.2 %. When introduced to clinical practice, correct use of the TCp02 Index of 0.55 resulted in a reduction in amputation revision rate from 40.3 % in 1987, to 8.2 % in 1990. Initially some surgeons felt that the TCp02 Index predicted amputation wound failure at distal sites at which healing could be expected on clinical criteria, and chose amputate at sites with a TCp02 Index value less than 0.55. These amputations failed to heal. As surgeons gained confidence in the test, they chose to follow the TCp02 data more often and the percentage of amputations performed at sites predicted by the TCp02 Index to fail , fell from 35.5 % in 1987 to 6.6 % in 1990. Over a 15 year period at King Edward VIII Hospital, the amputation revision rate has fallen from an average of 32.7 % in the first five years when Tcp02 data were not available to the surgeon, to 21.4 % and 22.9 % in the two subsequent 5 year periods when Tcp02 data were available. The mortality rates were unchanged. The decline in revision rates was less than expected and relates to the fact that approximately only 42 % of patients requiring amputation undergo the test. This is because it is time consuming and available only during weekday office hours. These studies have confirmed the usefulness of Tcp02 measurement in the non-invasive vascular laboratory. The index is shown to be superior to absolute Tcp02 as a predictive test of amputation wound healing. The introduction of several criteria to define when Tcp02 use is appropriate has refined the investigation and made it clinically useful in our setting. A Tcp02 Index of 0.55 in the appropriate patient is a useful test to predict amputation wound healing and its use has resulted in reduced patient morbidity and mortality, confirming the hypothesis tested. / Thesis (M.D.)-University of Natal, 2001.

Disertacijoje apžvelgtos viršutinės galūnės segmentų replantacijų indikacijų, kontraindikacijų, terminologijos bei profilaktinio medikamentų vartojimo tendencijos, siekiant sumažinti kraujagyslinių komplikacijų skaičių po replantacijų. Darbe atlikta didžiausio Lietuvos replantologijos centro Vilniaus universiteto ligoninės Santariškių klinikų Centro filialo Plastinės ir rekonstrukcinės chirurgijos skyriaus 1983–2007 metų viršutinės galūnės segmentų replantacijų, ir jų veiksnių apžvalga bei išnagrinėtos replantacijų skaičiaus mažėjimo priežastys. Taip pat nustatyta nemedikamentinių ir medikamentinių veiksnių reikšmė replantatų prigijimui. Gautais rezultatais paneigta šiuo metu paplitusi nuomonė dėl didelės profilaktiškai vartojamų medikamentų reikšmės replantatų prigijimui. Pasiūlytos rekomendacijos dėl terminų replantologijoje naudojimo. / We overviewed indications and contraindications and their tendencies for upper extremity replantations in our dissertation. This work reviewed and analyzed 1983-2007 years material of upper extremity replantations in the oldest and largest replantation center in Lithuania – VUH Centro Affiliate Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery Department. We analyzed trends and causes of changing numbers of upper extremity replantations. We assessed clinical and social factors and determined their relationship of replantated upper extremity segments. We determined dependencies between prophylactic use of medications and replants survival ratio during the investigation period. We also analyzed different meanings of replantology terms and offered some guidelines for their proper usage.

We overviewed indications and contraindications and their tendencies for upper extremity replantations in our dissertation. This work reviewed and analyzed 1983-2007 years material of upper extremity replantations in the oldest and largest replantation center in Lithuania – VUH Centro Affiliate Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery Department. We analyzed trends and causes of changing numbers of upper extremity replantations. We assessed clinical and social factors and determined their relationship of replantated upper extremity segments. We determined dependencies between prophylactic use of medications and replants survival ratio during the investigation period. We also analyzed different meanings of replantology terms and offered some guidelines for their proper usage. / Disertacijoje apžvelgtos viršutinės galūnės segmentų replantacijų indikacijų, kontraindikacijų, terminologijos bei profilaktinio medikamentų vartojimo tendencijos, siekiant sumažinti kraujagyslinių komplikacijų skaičių po replantacijų. Darbe atlikta didžiausio Lietuvos replantologijos centro Vilniaus universiteto ligoninės Santariškių klinikų Centro filialo Plastinės ir rekonstrukcinės chirurgijos skyriaus 1983–2007 metų viršutinės galūnės segmentų replantacijų, ir jų veiksnių apžvalga bei išnagrinėtos replantacijų skaičiaus mažėjimo priežastys. Taip pat nustatyta nemedikamentinių ir medikamentinių veiksnių reikšmė replantatų prigijimui. Gautais rezultatais paneigta šiuo metu paplitusi nuomonė dėl didelės profilaktiškai vartojamų medikamentų reikšmės replantatų prigijimui. Pasiūlytos rekomendacijos dėl terminų replantologijoje naudojimo.