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Last updated Wednesday, February 09, 2005
Length of surgery
About the surgery
Before surgery the patient' s injuries are cleaned very carefully to avoid deep infection. Any fractured bones are stabilized first, using small pins or metal plates. Next the tendons are repaired.
Repair of the delicate nerves, arteries and veins is done in the last stage of the procedure. These repairs are performed under operating microscopes, using microsurgical techniques.
In severe injuries, vein or skin grafts are taken from another site, such as the forearm, foot or thigh. Vein grafts help to replace missing segments of arteries or veins. Skin grafts are necessary when the injury or swelling prevents the skin edges from closing.
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