Amputated Arm Re-implanted at Unity Hospital

Amputated Arm Re-implanted at Unity Hospital

Mangaluru: On 2 April 2016 in a freak accident, a forty-year-old female, Usha M from Nileshwar Kerala, sustained avulsion amputation of the left hand at the forearm level when her hand was caught inside a coconut grinding machine while at work at Nileshwar.

Before Surgery – Injured Hand

The hand was retrieved from inside the machine and the patient was timely referred to the Unity Hospital Mangalore. The Orthopedic and Microsurgery team of Unity Hospital lead by Dr B Sachidanada Rai, supported by the anesthesia team lead by Dr Razak, successfully re-implanted the hand within 6 hours from injury.

The wound was debrided followed by fixation of the fractures and finally the tendons, nerves, veins and arteries were repaired. The patient had good postoperative recovery and is doing well. The hand is expected to be functional by eight months of time, which is the time required for the nerves to grow completely.