Chandigarh NewsChandigarh. Fortis Hospital Mohali has successfully performed a complex microvascular surgery to reattach a completely amputated finger. It is a ray of hope for those people who face similar situations due to accidents. This achievement highlights the importance of timely treatment in cases of traumatic amputation and the role of microvascular surgery in restoring normal function to amputated body parts.
The Fortis Mohali team, led by Dr Akhil Garg, Consultant Plastic and Microvascular Surgery, and Dr Vishal Gautam, Consultant Hand Surgery, performed the reimplantation surgery. At a press conference, Dr. Akhil Garg and Dr. Vishal Gautam presented a case study to raise awareness about the potential of microvascular reimplantation surgery to change lives. Reimplantation is a process in which a completely amputated part of the patient’s body is reattached and its blood flow is restored.
A thirty-year-old married man whose middle finger was completely amputated while cleaning his bicycle chain at home. Despite seeking immediate medical attention, a nearby hospital initially turned him away due to a lack of facilities and specialists for such a procedure. He arrived at Fortis Hospital Mohali about three and a half hours after the injury, where his amputated finger was placed in an ice pack.
Giving details of the case, Dr Akhil Garg, Consultant, Plastic and Microvascular Surgery, said, “Under microscopic magnification, the surgeons carefully reattached the bone, nerves, tendons and skin of the amputated finger. Blood flow was restored using microvascular surgery, which involved repairing small blood vessels. The surgery lasted five hours and the patient had a smooth, pain-free recovery, being discharged from the hospital after four days. You are continuously monitored and your finger starts to work slowly.
Dr. Garg said that usually the fingers, hands, wrists and forearms are affected by amputation, which are constantly exposed to mechanical forces. In most cases, reimplantation is the best treatment option, but timing is critical. Patients should be referred to a specialist immediately, as any delay reduces the chances of successful reimplantation.
He said that unfortunately amputations due to mechanical injuries are common, occurring in various situations such as road accidents, industrial incidents and even domestic accidents. These injuries can affect people of all ages, from minor cuts to complete loss of limbs. If left untreated, the amputated limb is lost forever, leaving the person disabled for life.
Emphasizing the importance of proper preservation of amputated limbs, Dr. Garg advised: “The amputated limb should first be wrapped in a damp cloth (cotton cloth), placed in waterproof packaging and then placed on ice or stored in packages.
He highlighted the importance of microvascular surgery in these cases, saying that the success of reimplantation depends on several factors, including the amputated part, the nature of the injury, the time between the injury and surgery and how the amputated part was preserved. . Most importantly, it requires an experienced microvascular surgeon and specialized equipment, which are only available in a few hospitals.
