Toe transferred to girl’s hand

A 12-YEAR OLD girl has partially regained the use of one of her hands after one of her toes was implanted as a thumb at Alicante Hospital. She lost the tips of her fingers as a result of burns shortly after she was born. The operation lasted 14 hours and involved the double reconstruction of the hand operated through a free flap of the leg and the transfer of a toe.

This is the first surgery of its kind in the Valencian Region and used microsurgical techniques to connect the arteries, veins and nerves in the wrists.

This kind of surgery could enable the replacement of complex structures injured by trauma, disease or congenital deformities, with tissue similar to the original, without the need to use external prostheses, hospital officials have suggested.

The operation was coordinated by the Trauma Service Dr Antonio Garcia Lopez and Plastic Surgery physician Carlos Laredo Ortiz, both of Alicante hospital.

The patient, who has been discharged, is undergoing rehabilitation for her hand and progressing satisfactorily.

By Nicole Hallett