Case History/examination:
A 26 year old, previously healthy, male presented to the emergency
department following an electric saw injury to the left thumb while
cutting wood at work. His dominant hand is the right hand. No past
medical or surgical history. Review of system was otherwise negative. He
brought the amputated part with him and it was wrapped in wet gauze and
placed in a container that was immersed in ice. On examination, he was
vitally stable, primary and secondary survey were unremarkable except
for the base of the left thumb amputation just distal to the
metacarpophalangeal joint (figure 1).