The Rubber Glove Osteotomy Method for Soft Tissue Retraction in Digital Replantation

Abstract

The use of rubber gloves to assist surgical tasks in hand surgery has been reported previously [1]. Surgical rubber glove is a cheap tool that could be used as a T-ring tourniquet or as a retraction tool while performing sharp debridement or osteotomy. In trans-phalangeal finger replantation, osteotomy and bone osteosynthesis are crucial to achieve optimal possible functional outcomes. A 10 x 10 centimeters piece of rubber surgical glove with a small 2 millimeters puncture hole is cut with a No. 11 surgical blade. After periosteal elevation is performed, the amputated phalanx, distal or proximal, is passed through and a mosquito or babcock is used to provide stability during manipulation [2]. While draping the digital soft tissues under the rubber glove, the line of osteotomy is clearly visualised (Figure 1). The saw is then used to safely and effectively cut through with precision and without the interference of soft tissue during osteotomy. In finger replantation, tissue retraction is a key step in achieving optimal osteosynthesis without the intrusion of the surrounding soft tissues (Figure 2) [3]. It’s a simple and cheap technique and allows better grip with a regular glove to fully enclose all soft tissues to prevent iatrogenic injury during osteotomy [1,2].