Doctors re-implant man's thumb

Surgeons at MaxCure Hospital, Madhapur re-implanted a thumb on a 30-year-old man recently. The patient, Vinod came to the hospital with an amputated right hand's thumb; he suffered the injury while working with industrial machine on November 8, 2016. Surgeons re-implanted the thumb in a 5-hour long surgery.

Announcing the feat on Wednesday, Dr Suneel, Hand Surgeon, MaxCure Hospitals, said, “The patient came to us after coordinating with me regarding method of preserving and transporting the amputated thumb. As soon as he came, I saw that it is a severe form of injury with low success rate for surgery.

Immediately, we performed the surgery by restoring the blood supply to thumb, repairing all the important structures, and vein grafting of digital artery.” “The key to right treatment in these kinds of cases is to see that the amputated part is transported in a proper state and also as early as possible. A suggestion would be, to get the amputated part at the earliest along with the victim in wrapped in plastic cover sealed and placed in bag with ice,” he added.

In a case like this, assessment and planning for surgery, Skill and expertise of surgeon and team in performing microvascular work and Postoperative care - monitoring for return of adequate blood supply and watching was early complications is of utmost significance. Vinod, the patient, said, “I almost lost the hope. I never thought I would get back to work so soon. It is miraculous. I am very thankful to the doctors here.”