Bengaluru: Fortis Hospital Bannerghatta Road located in Bengaluru has successfully carried out a complex surgery to replant the severed hand of a 28-year-old woman. The woman’s arm was severed while she was working at an ayurvedic powder manufacturing facility in Bengaluru.
The intricate replantation surgery was conducted by Dr Sathya Vamsi Krishna, a Consultant specializing in Hand, Upper-limb, and Microvascular Surgery at Fortis Hospital, Bannerghatta Road. This procedure involved precise identification and suturing of bones, muscles, blood vessels, nerves, and tendons using microsurgical techniques.
Thanks to the patient’s prompt arrival at the hospital and the medical team’s expertise, the complex surgery, which lasted for six hours, resulted in a successful replantation.
The patient had suffered an amputation near the elbow, and she was immediately taken to Fortis Hospital after the incident. The medical team initially had to stabilize the bone and adjust the length of the limb. This was followed by the meticulous reconnection of critical arteries, veins, and nerves using tiny stitches.
Due to the higher cut on the limb, there was an elevated risk since the area contained red muscles that required a continuous supply of oxygen to function properly. Therefore, the restoration of blood flow was a priority and took about two hours to accomplish. Following this, the hand was carefully positioned and secured using plates.
Post-surgery, the patient was closely monitored in the ICU for a day. She was eventually discharged in stable condition a week later. However, it’s anticipated that she will need around six more months of intensive physical rehabilitation to fully regain hand functionality.
Dr Vamsi, providing advice on preserving severed body parts, emphasized the importance of keeping the amputated part clean, cool, and moist to maintain its viability. Ideally, the severed part should be wrapped in a sterile, damp cloth or gauze, placed in a plastic bag, and kept on ice until it can be transported to a medical facility.
Directly immersing the severed part in water or ice is not recommended, as it can damage the tissues and reduce the chances of successful reattachment. In cases of accidental amputation, seeking immediate medical attention is crucial, as time is a critical factor in preserving the viability of the severed body part.
