Fortune and misfortune — it all comes down to comparison!

A 24-year-old man, Zhao Chen (pseudonym), suddenly lost the pulp of both thumbs in an accident.

Even after successful reconstruction, his spirits remained low.

His thumbs were so severely injured at the distal phalanx that replantation was impossible. Emergency reconstruction was performed — the result: a natural, pleasing appearance.

A warm-hearted fellow patient in the same room, about to be discharged, had been through a similar experience — and could therefore deeply empathize with everything Zhao Chen had endured.

To encourage him, he shared his own story.

After listening, Zhao Chen came to feel fortunate, adjusted his mindset, and began cooperating actively with his treatment.

At his one-year follow-up, the ideal recovery exceeded everyone's expectations.

He said: "I'm so lucky! It was like waking from a nightmare — my thumbs were still intact and complete…"

One year after surgery, both thumbs: plump, natural, and beautiful — fully flexible and functional.

Dr. Wu Zhaosen, Vice President, expert in finger reconstruction:​

"When a finger is injured and replantation is not possible, we offer two treatment options:

1. Direct repair:​ After debridement of the wound, the tissue is sutured directly. Surgery time and hospital stay are shorter, and the cost is lower. However, the fingertip remains amputated — the appearance is unsatisfactory, affecting both function and social confidence.

2. Emergency reconstruction:​ After thorough debridement, a pulp flap precisely sized and shaped to the defect is harvested from the big toe. The finger is restored to a complete, natural-looking form. Because the defect is relatively small, the donor toe retains its basic appearance.

We choose the appropriate surgical plan based on each patient's condition."

Dr. Wu adds:​ Reconstruction cases fall into two categories: those like Zhao Chen, who undergo emergency reconstruction, and those like his neighbor, who undergo sub-acute (delayed) reconstruction.

Sub-acute patients have lived without the finger for some time and have already adapted to its functional loss. Especially for the other four fingers, distal-fingertip loss has little impact on daily function.

So why undergo reconstruction at all?​

The patients' answers were remarkably consistent: it affects their social life.

They said: using a portion of a toe to rebuild the thumb both makes up for the loss of the finger and preserves the toe's basic appearance — truly a "win-win" solution.

Since we have both the financial means to decide and the medical technology to deliver, why live on with an incomplete finger, trapped in self-doubt?​

After treatment, they regained the fingers they had longed for.

Reconstruction techniques today are highly mature. If you wish to make up for a missing finger, come to Renji Hospital and give yourself a new beginning.