Fortune and Misfortune Are Both a Matter of Comparison

Zhao Chen (pseudonym), a 24-year-old man, was suddenly involved in an accident that resulted in the loss of the pulp of both thumbs. Even after a successful reconstruction, he remained deeply depressed.

The distal phalanges of both thumbs were severely injured, leaving no viable option for replantation. Following emergency reconstruction, however, the cosmetic outcome was satisfactory.

A warm-hearted fellow patient in the same ward, who had undergone a similar experience, could better empathize with the hardships Zhao Chen had endured. To encourage him, the patient shared his own story.

After hearing it, Zhao Chen felt a renewed sense of fortune, adjusted his mindset, and began to cooperate actively with the medical team. At the one-year postoperative follow-up, the recovery outcome exceeded everyone's expectations.

He said, "I feel so fortunate! It was like a nightmare—but when I woke up, both of my thumbs were still intact…"

One-year follow-up of both thumbs: full and natural with an aesthetically pleasing contour; functionally flexible and unimpaired.

Vice President Wu Zhaosen, finger reconstruction specialist, explains:

For finger injuries where replantation is not feasible, we offer two treatment options:

1. Direct repair: After debridement of the wound, the defect is closed by direct suture. The procedure is short, with a brief hospital stay and lower cost; however, the distal phalanx remains deficient after healing, resulting in a suboptimal cosmetic appearance that may affect both social interaction and function.

1. Emergency reconstruction: After thorough debridement, the great toe pulp is precisely harvested—sized and contoured to match the defect—for repair. The finger is restored to completeness with a satisfactory appearance. Because the defect is relatively small, the great toe also retains its basic contour.

The appropriate surgical plan is selected according to the patient's chief complaint.

Vice President Wu notes that patients seeking reconstruction fall into two categories: those like Zhao Chen, who opt for emergency reconstruction; and those like the older patient in the next bed, who undergo subemergency reconstruction.

Patients undergoing subemergency reconstruction have actually lived with the finger defect for some time and have already adapted to its functional limitations. In particular, loss of the distal phalanx of the other four fingers—apart from the thumb—has little impact on function. So why pursue reconstruction? The patients' answers are remarkably consistent: it affects their social life.

They say: harvesting a portion of the toe to reconstruct the thumb not only remedies the regret of the missing finger but also preserves the basic contour of the toe—a "best of both worlds" solution. With both the financial means and the capacity to make the decision, as well as mature medical technology, why remain stuck in self-consciousness over a permanently defective finger?

After treatment, they regain ideal fingers. Today, reconstruction techniques are highly advanced. If you wish to make up for the regret of finger loss, consider Renji Hospital.