Successful hand transplant gives painter fresh lease of life

New Delhi, March 6

A 45-year-old man, Raj Kumar, who lost his upper limbs in a train accident, is set to lead a normal life, following a successful bilateral hand transplant at a hospital in the Capital.

Doctors said Raj Kumar, a painter from Nangloi, lost his control while crossing the railway tracks near his residence on a bicycle. Subsequently, he fell on the tracks and was run over by a train, resulting in the amputation of both his upper limbs.

Dr Mahesh Mangal, chairman, Department of Plastic and Cosmetic Surgery at Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, said, “Kumar became dependent on others for his day-to-day activities after the incident. His only option was either prosthetic or a transplant.”

Unfortunately, Raj Kumar’s prosthetic trial failed, leaving him with only hope for a hand transplant. However, at that time, no centre in north India had permission to perform such a procedure. In February 2023, Sir Ganga Ram Hospital became the first hospital in north India to receive the permission for hand transplants.

“When we were looking for potential candidates for hand transplant, Raj Kumar was on our waiting list. In the third week of January, his hopes were emerged when he received a call from the hospital” said Dr Mangal,” he added

The donor, Meena Mehta, a retired vice principal of New Greenfield School, Kalkaji, had expressed a wish to donate her organs after her death, highlighting the altruism behind the donation. “This is the first case of hand donation in north India,” emphasised Dr Mangal.

On 19th January, a dedicated team of surgeons executed the intricate procedure, delicately reattaching various components, including bones, arteries, veins, tendons, muscles, nerves, and skin. Kumar will be discharged from the hospital on Thursday after nearly six weeks, marking a significant milestone in his journey towards recovery.