Life took a drastic turn for Mangilal, a 15-year-old resident of Anekal taluk in Bengaluru, when he crushed and severed his thumb while playing with a wood-cutting machine. However, his parents did not lose hope. They carefully preserved the severed thumb and rushed him to Narayana Health City’s emergency department. Under the expertise of Dr Ravi DR, a plastic and reconstructive surgeon at Narayana Health Orthopedics, Spine and Trauma Care, the thumb was successfully reattached through microsurgical techniques. The complex procedure took about six hours, after which Mangilal was discharged in five days. Post-operative care played a crucial role in his faster recovery, enabling him to regain his fine motor skills and the ability to grasp objects. Dr Ravi emphasized the thumb’s significance in hand functionality, accounting for 40% of hand movement related to grasping, gripping, and fine motor skills. Time is of the essence in such cases, as immediate action is crucial. In case of amputations, the amputated part should be wrapped in a gauze or cloth and stored in a polythene bag placed in an ice chamber. The reimplantation procedure involves joining the bone, nerves, and arteries, with complete recovery taking approximately six weeks. The first milestone in the recovery process is regaining sensation. Physiotherapy, including activities like holding objects and pinching, plays a crucial role in restoring thumb functions. Mangilal, who aspires to be a businessman like his father, is now on the path to starting a new life.
