Youth gets his separated thumb reattached successfully at Alchemist Hospital

Panchkula: Right hand thumb of a 27 year old man which was crushed while installing a heavy machine and got separate from his hand has been successfully reattached with the hand by Dr. Himanshu Paul, Plastic and Reconstructive surgeon in Alchemist Hospital recently.  

According to Dr. Himanshu Paul, 27 year old young man who is an electrician by occupation rushed to Alchemist hospital   with heavy bleeding from hand, his thumb was totally separated. Dr. Himanshu said that his bone was fixed by K wiring.  Neurovascular repair was done using Microvascular Technique under microscope. Thumb has been re-attached and arterial inflow and venous outflow restored by repairing all digital arteries, digital veins, nerves and tendons sequentially. The procedure is considered to be a challenging one requiring utmost surgical skills and advanced technical knowhow. There are very few PLASTIC SURGERY centres in INDIA who are well equipped for such a major reconstructive surgery.

Now his thumb completely healed and he can move his thumb well.His family members said that he is right handed and do all his work with right hand. They were worried that how will he manage without thumb. The patient is now well rehabilitated and is back to his working condition.

The thumb contributes 40% to the overall function of the hand. Dr Himanshu told that Specific consideration for replantation of the thumb includes bony fixation through the MCP and IP joints, use microvascular technique and microvascular sutures for completion of the arterial and venous anastomoses and use of immediate tendon and nerve repair for avulsion injuries. The majority of thumb amputations occur because the thumb is relatively unprotected by the other digits, avulsion amputation are relatively common, such as in waterskiing and rodeo injuries.