Hyderabad: Apollo Hospitals Hyderabad has successfully completed a complex microvascular replantation surgery, marking the first major proximal limb reattachment in the Telugu states. The surgery was performed on October 11, 2024, for a 32-year-old patient, Mr A. Pavan Kumar from Mancherial, who suffered a severe elbow-level amputation of his right hand.

The patient, whose injury included a complex Grade 3c open fracture of the proximal humerus, presented beyond the critical “Golden Hour” for limb reattachment, usually between 4-6 hours for upper limbs.

Despite this, Apollo’s team, led by Dr G N Bandari, Consultant Hand, Wrist, and Microsurgeon, moved quickly, bypassing standard emergency room procedures to proceed directly to surgery.

The operation, involving a coordinated team including Dr Guru Prasad (Plastic Surgeon), Dr Vivek Reddy (Orthopaedic Surgeon), and critical care support, took eight hours to complete. Today, Mr Kumar’s reattached hand is healing well, and further surgeries are planned in six months to improve functionality.

Dr Bandari emphasized the significance of the surgery, saying, “This surgery is a milestone in microvascular reimplantation, demonstrating what is possible even beyond the traditional golden hour of replantation. We hope to inspire greater awareness on how immediate care and transport of amputated parts can be critical for successful reimplantation.”

Dr Bandari also shared essential advice on preserving amputated limbs: wash the amputated part, wrap it in a polythene cover or aluminium wrapper, and place it in an ice pack. Direct contact with ice can cause frostbite damage, making replantation impossible.

The CEO of Apollo Hospitals, Telangana Region, Mr Tejesvi Rao, stated, “This achievement is a testament to Apollo’s commitment to cutting-edge medical solutions. Our teams are dedicated to providing transformative care, redefining the standards of trauma treatment.”

Dr Ravinder Babu, Director of Medical Services at Apollo Hospitals, Hyderabad, stressed the importance of immediate hospital choice and timely arrival.

“Our success in this complex replantation surgery is a result of Apollo’s dedication to building highly specialized teams equipped with advanced skills in microvascular procedures,” he noted, emphasizing how these factors greatly influence surgical outcomes in cases of amputation.

The patient, Mr Kumar, expressed his gratitude, saying, “I was not optimistic about getting back my hand, but today it is recovering. My message to the public is to reach the hospital quickly with the properly preserved limb.”

This case highlights the crucial role of public awareness in preserving amputated limbs for potential reattachment and points to future possibilities in hand transplantation through donor hands, potentially facilitated by programs like Jeevandan.

Rishika Verma
Rishika Verma