Upper Extremity Replantations in Renaissance Art

Replantation following traumatic amputations became possible in the 20th century with the introduction of microsurgical techniques that permit the repair of small vessels and nerves. Although these operations are commonly thought to represent advances of modern medicine, such replantations were depicted hundreds of years earlier as miracles by many artists. Although many religions note miracles in their liturgy or texts, those associated with replantations have to our knowledge been portrayed visually only in Christian religious paintings.