Tue Feb 18 19:33:58 UTC 2025: ## Chennai Doctors Successfully Replant Severed Fingers in Two Cases, Highlight Importance of Swift Action
**Chennai, February 19, 2025** – Apollo First Med Hospital in Chennai has successfully reattached severed fingers in two patients, highlighting the importance of rapid medical attention in such cases. Sixty-four-year-old Vijayan, injured in an industrial accident, and 78-year-old Karunakaran, injured during a severe storm, both underwent successful replantation surgeries. Vijayan’s surgery lasted 3.5 hours, while Karunakaran’s took seven hours.
Doctors emphasized the significance of prompt action following such injuries. Senior consultant plastic surgeon Dr. Sabari Girish Ambat stated that hands account for 40-45% of all bodily injuries, with traumatic finger amputations frequently resulting from accidents. Advances in microsurgery now allow for the replantation of even small sections, like fingertips, thanks to improved microscopes and finer sutures.
The procedure involves reconnecting bones, tendons, nerves, and blood vessels to restore blood flow and hand function. Doctors advised that severed body parts should be carefully wrapped in a clean cloth, placed in a cool, sealed container (using ice packs but avoiding direct contact with ice), and brought to a hospital within six hours. The success rate for replantation, they explained, ranges from 80-95% for clean cuts, decreasing for crush injuries. Dr. V. Purushothaman stressed the importance of bringing even the smallest severed piece to the hospital for optimal chances of successful reattachment.
First Piper 