Successful Lower Limb Replantation of Knee-Level Amputation in a Child: A Case Report.

Abstract

Replantation of a lower extremity amputated at the knee joint level in a child is rare. We present a case of a 3-year-old child with his right leg totally severed from the knee joint in a traumatic accident. After 5 hours of cold ischemia time, together with antishock therapies, the child underwent leg replantation under stable conditions. The replanted lower limb finally survived after several surgical procedures. The patient was discharged 4 weeks after admission and had restored partial motor and sensory functions 6 months after surgery. During follow-ups, the patient underwent sustained rehabilitation and recovered well. Two years after replantation, secondary knee reconstruction was performed and yielded favorable aesthetic and functional improvement. In brief, a successful knee-level replantation in a child is attributed to correct preoperative first aid, excellent microsurgical skills, and intensive postoperative management.