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A qualitative study of the long-term consequences and adaptation in daily life after replantation surgery at a young age

Rosberg, Hans Eric LU ; Dahlin, Lars B. LU orcid and Carlsson, Ingela K. LU (2022) In Hand Therapy 27(4). p.112-122
Abstract

Introduction: Impaired functioning is seen in patients following replantation surgery to the thumb or fingers. Our aim was to explore long-term consequences and adaptation in daily life after a thumb and/or multiple finger amputation followed by replantation surgery during young age. Methods: Semi-structured interviews were conducted with nine recruited individuals and analysed using content analysis. The participants were asked to describe their hand function, pain, appearance, emotional consequences, impact on daily life and strategies for overcoming daily challenges. Results: The interviews revealed five main categories: memories of the injury and concerns for the future; hand function, pain and cold sensitivity; feelings about... (More)

Introduction: Impaired functioning is seen in patients following replantation surgery to the thumb or fingers. Our aim was to explore long-term consequences and adaptation in daily life after a thumb and/or multiple finger amputation followed by replantation surgery during young age. Methods: Semi-structured interviews were conducted with nine recruited individuals and analysed using content analysis. The participants were asked to describe their hand function, pain, appearance, emotional consequences, impact on daily life and strategies for overcoming daily challenges. Results: The interviews revealed five main categories: memories of the injury and concerns for the future; hand function, pain and cold sensitivity; feelings about having a visibly different hand; adaptation to impairments and challenges in daily life; and key messages to healthcare professions and advice to future patients. The circumstances of the injury were well remembered. Pain at rest was rare but occurred when grasping. Cold sensitivity was a major issue. Appearance-related concerns varied from none to a major problem. Despite impaired hand function, solutions were found to challenges in daily life. Compensatory strategies, personal resources and support from others were important in this adaptation process. Conclusions: Patients with replantation surgery after an amputation during young age adapt to challenges in daily life over time. Healthcare professionals should offer adequate support to enable emotional processing of trauma experience. Appearance-related concerns should be addressed to prevent distress. Information about alleviating strategies to overcome long-term problems with cold sensitivity should be emphasized.

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Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
; and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
keywords
adaptation, Children, hand deformities, qualitative research, replantation
in
Hand Therapy
volume
27
issue
4
pages
11 pages
publisher
SAGE Publications
external identifiers
  • pmid:37904897
  • scopus:85139417761
ISSN
1758-9983
DOI
10.1177/17589983221118399
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
f5f903c8-f6d2-4b71-9a63-afad29e8719d
date added to LUP
2022-12-19 12:49:06
date last changed
2024-04-04 14:18:55
@article{f5f903c8-f6d2-4b71-9a63-afad29e8719d,
  abstract     = {{<p>Introduction: Impaired functioning is seen in patients following replantation surgery to the thumb or fingers. Our aim was to explore long-term consequences and adaptation in daily life after a thumb and/or multiple finger amputation followed by replantation surgery during young age. Methods: Semi-structured interviews were conducted with nine recruited individuals and analysed using content analysis. The participants were asked to describe their hand function, pain, appearance, emotional consequences, impact on daily life and strategies for overcoming daily challenges. Results: The interviews revealed five main categories: memories of the injury and concerns for the future; hand function, pain and cold sensitivity; feelings about having a visibly different hand; adaptation to impairments and challenges in daily life; and key messages to healthcare professions and advice to future patients. The circumstances of the injury were well remembered. Pain at rest was rare but occurred when grasping. Cold sensitivity was a major issue. Appearance-related concerns varied from none to a major problem. Despite impaired hand function, solutions were found to challenges in daily life. Compensatory strategies, personal resources and support from others were important in this adaptation process. Conclusions: Patients with replantation surgery after an amputation during young age adapt to challenges in daily life over time. Healthcare professionals should offer adequate support to enable emotional processing of trauma experience. Appearance-related concerns should be addressed to prevent distress. Information about alleviating strategies to overcome long-term problems with cold sensitivity should be emphasized.</p>}},
  author       = {{Rosberg, Hans Eric and Dahlin, Lars B. and Carlsson, Ingela K.}},
  issn         = {{1758-9983}},
  keywords     = {{adaptation; Children; hand deformities; qualitative research; replantation}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{4}},
  pages        = {{112--122}},
  publisher    = {{SAGE Publications}},
  series       = {{Hand Therapy}},
  title        = {{A qualitative study of the long-term consequences and adaptation in daily life after replantation surgery at a young age}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/17589983221118399}},
  doi          = {{10.1177/17589983221118399}},
  volume       = {{27}},
  year         = {{2022}},
}