Patna: Doctors at All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) Patna have successfully re-implanted the amputated right hand of a six-year-old girl in a complex overnight surgery, hospital officials said on Monday. The child, Lakshmi Kumari from Vaishali district, had suffered a near-total hand amputation in an accident involving a fodder-cutting machine at her home.
The incident occurred around 2 pm when the girl was playing near the agricultural machine. Owing to the severity of the injury, she was referred through multiple centres before reaching the AIIMS Patna emergency department at about 7.30pm. Doctors said the time between injury and specialised treatment is critical in such cases.
According to hospital authorities, the plastic surgery and anaesthesia teams were mobilised immediately, with orthopaedics on standby. Within 30 minutes of arrival, Lakshmi was taken into the operating theatre. The microsurgical procedure began around 8 pm and continued for nearly six hours, concluding at approximately 2 am. Surgeons carefully repaired nerves, arteries, tendons and other delicate tissues, restoring blood circulation to the hand.
The operation was carried out under the supervision of Dr Veena Singh, head of plastic surgery, along with a team of specialists and support staff. Hospital officials described the surgery as a coordinated, multidisciplinary effort requiring precision and rapid decision-making.
Doctors said the child is now stable and showing encouraging signs of circulation in her fingers. With proper rehabilitation, they expect gradual improvement in function over the next one to two months.The hospital also issued guidance on the safe transport of amputated limbs, advising that the severed part be placed in a clean plastic bag, which should then be kept inside another bag containing ice cubes. Direct contact with ice or immersion in water should be avoided.
Medical experts emphasised that timely referral ideally within two to four hours of injury along with proper preservation of the amputated part, can significantly increase the chances of successful re-implantation. Hospital authorities praised the swift response of their medical and nursing teams, saying the outcome demonstrates how prompt, specialised care can save not just a limb, but a child’s future.
