10 Hour Surgery at CARE Hospitals Replants 19 Year Old Worker’s Severed Forearm

Dr. Divya Sai Narsingam, Senior Consultant, Plastic Surgery, Dr. K. Harikrishna Reddy, Senior Consultant, General Surgery, Dr. Gottemukkala Ashok Raju, Clinical Director & Senior Consultant, Orthopaedics, and Dr. Pramod Gupta, Chief Operating Officer, CARE Hospitals, HITEC City, detail the multidisciplinary response after the worker reached emergency care within an hour of a drill machine accident.

A 19 year old worker who suffered complete amputation of his right forearm in a drill machine accident has undergone a 10 hour replantation surgery at CARE Hospitals, HITEC City, with doctors reporting normal blood circulation and early movement and sensation in his fingers.
The young worker reached the hospital’s Emergency Department within an hour of the industrial accident. He had sustained a severe crush injury while operating a drill machine, resulting in complete separation of his right forearm.
Considering the patient’s age, the nature of the injury and his timely arrival at specialised emergency care, doctors decided to attempt replantation of the severed limb.

A multidisciplinary team involving Orthopaedics, Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery, General Surgery and Anaesthesia carried out the procedure. The surgery required extensive cleaning of damaged tissue, stabilisation of both forearm bones with plates, restoration of the limb and reconstruction of damaged soft tissues.
Replantation following complete amputation requires the surgical team to restore blood circulation while repairing and reconstructing injured bones and soft tissues. The extent of the original injury, the time taken to reach appropriate trauma care and subsequent rehabilitation can influence recovery.
Dr. Divya Sai Narsingam, Senior Consultant, Plastic Surgery, CARE Hospitals, HITEC City, said, “The first challenge in a completely amputated limb is to restore viability and blood circulation. After that, the damaged structures and soft tissues have to be reconstructed carefully. The replanted forearm is now viable, blood circulation is normal, and we are seeing encouraging movement and sensation in his fingers. Rehabilitation will now play an important role in helping him regain maximum possible function.”

Following surgery, the patient was monitored in the surgical intensive care unit. Further wound management, including skin grafting, was subsequently required. According to the hospital, he responded well to treatment and was discharged in a stable condition.
Dr. K. Harikrishna Reddy, Senior Consultant, General Surgery, CARE Hospitals, HITEC City, said, “Industrial injuries involving machinery can cause devastating damage within seconds. What made an important difference in this case was that the patient reached specialised emergency care quickly and the required surgical teams could intervene without delay.”
Dr. Gottemukkala Ashok Raju, Clinical Director & Senior Consultant, Orthopaedics, CARE Hospitals, HITEC City, said, “This was a severe crush injury with complete amputation of the forearm. The patient reaching us within an hour was extremely important. In such injuries, every minute matters. Our immediate priority was to stabilise the limb and work together across specialties to give this young man the best possible chance of saving his arm.”

Dr. Pramod Gupta, Chief Operating Officer, CARE Hospitals, HITEC City, said, “For a 19-year-old, saving a limb is not only about treating an injury; it can have a lifelong impact on his independence and livelihood. This outcome reflects the coordinated effort of our emergency, surgical, critical care and rehabilitation teams. We are encouraged by his recovery and wish him the very best as he continues rehabilitation.”
The patient will continue regular follow up and rehabilitation aimed at improving strength, movement and functional use of the replanted hand and forearm. Doctors said that normal circulation and early signs of finger movement and sensation are encouraging, while long term functional recovery will depend on healing, nerve recovery and sustained rehabilitation.

The hospital also highlighted the importance of rapid emergency care following industrial accidents involving complete or partial amputation.
According to the medical guidance provided by CARE Hospitals, a completely severed body part should be handled carefully and wrapped in clean moist gauze before being placed inside a clean, sealed plastic bag and kept cool. The severed part should not be placed directly on ice. Both the patient and amputated part should be transported to an appropriate hospital as quickly as possible.

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