Shriyo (name changed ) , a 10year old child ,had an unfortunate accident losing both his thumbs. While returning from a tuition class, he had put his hands on the collapsible doors of an elevator, which started moving as it was on auto mode. Both his thumbs were stuck in the door and were pulled by the moving elevator, resulting in amputation of both thumbs from the middle of metacarpal bones. He was rushed to a local nursing home where the amputated thumbs were stitched back but the family was told that they won’t be able to attach the thumbs. Parents immediately moved him to CMRI and met with our Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeon, Dr Anupam Golash.
He was brought to CMRI at 10 pm and Dr Golash started the surgery at around 11 pm. All the fine structures like arteries, veins, nerves and tendons were identified under microscope and then rejoined using very fine sutures after fixing the bones. The surgery lasted for 6 hours and both thumbs were successfully replanted.
After a few days Shriyo was able to move his thumbs and use if for his daily activities like writing. He is now a budding artist and has a collection of Portraits and Sketches drawn by him.
Replantation or rejoining an amputated finger can be done up to 24 hours from the time of injury if the cut part is properly preserved. Amputated part should be washed in clean water and then sealed in a plastic/polythene bag which needs to be stored in an ice bag. Cut part should not be put directly on ice as it gets frozen and gets damaged. Patient along with the preserved amputated part should be transferred to a hospital where replantation is regularly done. In cases of more proximal amputation i.e. above wrist or elbow amputations, timing is critical as these parts should be rejoined within 6-8 hours to prevent damage to muscles due to ischemia.
CMRI is the leading center for replantation and microvascular reconstructive surgeries in Eastern India known for reconstructive surgeries and replantation.
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