A team of surgeons at Sir Ganga Ram Hospital in New Delhi, India, has successfully completed a bilateral hand transplant.
The 12-hour operation offers a new lease on life to a 45-year-old painter, Raj Kumar, who lost both of his hands in an accident.
The journey towards this remarkable feat began in October 2020 when he met with a devastating accident, run over by a train while crossing railway tracks on his bicycle.
Despite the use of prosthetics, his quality of life deteriorated significantly, compelling him to seek a hand transplant as his only hope for normalcy.
The turning point came with the generous donation pledge made by Meena Mehta, the former administrative head of a South Delhi school, who tragically became brain-dead.
Her decision to donate her organs following her death proved to be life-changing for Kumar and several other individuals in need.
Under the leadership of Dr Mahesh Mangal, Chairman of the Department of Plastic and Cosmetic Surgery, and Dr Swaroop Singh Gambhir, Senior Consultant of Plastic and Cosmetic Surgery, a team of 11 skilled doctors embarked on the 12-hour-long complex bilateral hand transplant surgery at Sir Ganga Ram Hospital.
The intricate procedure involved reattaching various components, including bones, arteries, veins, tendons, muscles, nerves, and skin. Dr Gambhir emphasised the precision and expertise required to integrate the transplanted hands into Kumar's body seamlessly.
‘We selected Kumar as he was a bilateral amputee, and upon conducting necessary tests, we found him to be a suitable candidate for the transplant. We took the hands from Mehta, who had pledged to be a multi-organ donor,’ stated Dr Gambhir.
Following the successful surgery, Kumar exhibited remarkable progress in his recovery.
Six weeks after his surgery, doctors announced his upcoming discharge, marking a significant milestone in his journey towards rehabilitation and normalcy. Kumar is all set to be discharged from the hospital following intensive care and rehabilitation,
Meena Mehta’s gesture extended beyond Kumar's life-changing surgery. Her kidneys, liver, and corneas were also donated, offering hope and a new lease on life to several other patients in need.
This achievement comes in the wake of Sir Ganga Ram Hospital receiving permission in February 2023 to perform hand transplant surgeries, marking a pivotal moment in medical history, particularly in North India.
