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A new admittance plethysmograph, designed for the observation of finger vasomotor function, was employed to characterize circulation through replanted fingers and to clarify the relationship between the duration of ischemia and the postoperative recovery of finger sensory function. The study was carried out on 13 replanted fingers, 1 replanted arm and 12 contralateral normal fingers of 11 patients who underwent finger or arm replantation. To assess the reliability of this admittance plethysmograph, water-filled plethysmography was simultaneously performed, utilizing a newly devised electric volume sensor. Replanted fingers were divided into three groups based on vasomotor reactions; normal reaction group, vasodilation group and vasoconstriction group. This classification of vasomotor reactions had a high correlation ratio (0.86) with static two-point discrimination (2PD). Total ischemia time (time from amputation to reperfusion) did not correlate with static 2PD, while total warm ischemia time (obtained by subtracting the duration of cold storage of amputated finger from the total ischemia time) correlated well with static 2PD (gamma s = 0.766). The finding of various types of vasomotor reactions in replanted fingers suggests that normal vasomotor function cannot be restored by recovery of vasoconstrictor nerves alone, and that vasodilator nerves are also present in hands and fingers.

Endoscopes are mainly used to study the internal structures of organs and tissues with inherent space. These include the gastrointestinal tract, abdominal space and joint space. The standard endoscope, however, cannot be used to evaluate tissues without such space. We have invented a new type of operation tube to be used with the arthroscope. This combination enables us to study subcutaneous soft tissues without inherent space. Our new device is a powerful tool to be used for evaluation of subcutaneous soft tissues in any part of the body. Surgical procedures can also be carried out with this device. Areas of future applications of our device will be extremely wide including orthopaedic surgery, plastic surgery and general surgery. The presentation will discuss the procedure for utilizing this new instrument.