12 hours of tension to reconnect two nearly severed hands

Doctors at Cho Ray Hospital (HCMC) successfully reattached the hands of a male patient who had been nearly severed. The complex and stressful surgery lasted 12 hours.

After a period of time, doctors at Cho Ray Hospital successfully reattached both hands, the patient was discharged from the hospital - Photo: Provided by the hospital

On November 6, Dr. Tran Phuoc Binh - Orthopedic Trauma Department of Cho Ray Hospital (HCMC) - said that the unit had just successfully treated a male patient who had both hands severed in a fight with a neighbor.

Previously, at around 11pm on October 16, patient PTC (40 years old, Dong Thap ) was transferred to the hospital in a state of severe blood loss shock, multiple injuries with slashes on the chest, back and both hands, in which one hand was completely severed, the other hand was nearly severed with only a part of skin and bone remaining.

Immediately after receiving the patient, the hospital activated the red alert procedure, mobilizing forces from the emergency department, the orthopedic trauma department, and the anesthesia and resuscitation department to coordinate the treatment. After performing a blood transfusion and stabilizing the patient's hemodynamics, the patient was quickly taken straight to the operating room.

Dr. Binh said this was one of the most complicated and stressful surgeries. The surgery lasted 12 hours with the participation and coordination of all three surgical teams from the orthopedic trauma department. The first team performed the initial treatment of both limbs, cleaning, fixing the bones and preparing for microsurgery.

By dawn, the microsurgery team continued to reconnect blood vessels, nerves and tendons to both hands. With the near-severed hand (right), the doctors had to combine bones, reconnect blood vessels and nerves under a microscope.

At the same time, the completely severed hand (left) had more difficulties due to complex injuries and unstable hemodynamics. At times, the team had to reopen the incision to reconnect the blood vessels.

By 1pm the following day, the surgery was a success. Both hands were pink, warm and showed signs of life. Ten days after the micro-limb reattachment surgery, the patient continued to receive additional skin grafting.

Currently, after a period of physical therapy and monitoring of vital signs, the patient's condition is stable, both hands are doing well. The patient has been discharged from the hospital.

How to give first aid to someone with a severed limb?

Doctor Tran Phuoc Binh added that recently, the number of trauma cases admitted to the department due to fights has been on the rise, mostly related to conflicts after drinking alcohol.

However, not all cases can be treated successfully if they are not treated promptly and properly.

Orthopedic trauma experts also emphasize that when an accident unfortunately occurs, proper first aid is very important.

Accordingly, the patient needs to stop the bleeding, quickly preserve the severed limb with a clean bandage placed in a sealed plastic bag, then put the bag in a bucket of ice water (do not soak directly), and quickly transfer the victim to a medical facility capable of performing microsurgery for timely treatment.

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Source: https://tuoitre.vn/12-gio-cang-thang-noi-2-ban-tay-bi-chem-gan-dut-lia-20251106191941074.htm