Digital Artery Disease

to be a primary vasospastic disorder may be followed years later by the development of organic digital disease (Johnston, Summerly, and Birnstingl, 1965), and since relapse after sympathectomy may take several years to appear (de Takats and Fowler, 1962), follow-up studies should be carried out as long as possible. The present series of 43 patients were all treated by upper thoracic sympathectomy, at the time of which they were already considered to have ,organic blockage of digital arteries. They have been carefully followed at least two years, and in most cases for more than five years, after this operation. The study therefore concerns the long-term results of sympathectomy in a selected group of patients with relatively severe digital ischaemia.