Doctors perform toe to hand transplant surgery

After the toe was removed, the blood vessels, nerves and bones of the hand were carefully identified, and the toe bones were then joined to the hand bones and fixed together with a wire followed by tendon repair. Then the tiny blood vessels and nerves of the hand and the transplanted toe were joined.

Updated On Jul 27, 2023 at 03:40 PM IST

Kozhikode: Doctors at Meitra Hospital here performed a toe to hand transplant on a 19-year-old youth to give him a functional hand.

Ajmal C P, who had lost a finger in an accident, underwent the complicated surgery wherein the second toe (next to big toe) was removed from his foot along with its own blood arteries, nerves bone and tendons and attached to his hand to replace the finger he had lost.

After the toe was removed, the blood vessels, nerves and bones of the hand were carefully identified, and the toe bones were then joined to the hand bones and fixed together with a wire followed by tendon repair. Then the tiny blood vessels and nerves of the hand and the transplanted toe were joined.

The gap left by the missing toe on the foot was sutured up and left to heal, and it would not hinder the foot's functionality.

Doctors said that Ajmal now has a functional hand and can do daily tasks easily.

Faizal E Kottikollan, chairman of Meitra Hospital, said that the successful toe to hand transplant vindicates our stand and highlights the hospital's endeavour to bring the latest medical developments to Kerala.

Dr George Abraham, chair & senior consultant, bone, joint & spine, Dr Gopala Krishnan, HOD & senior consultant, hand, trauma and reconstructive surgery and Dr Febin Ahammed PI oversaw the surgery.

Dr Febin said that after surgery, the patient was able to get a functional hand to do all normal activities, and also his ability to walk, run and jump was intact.