15-Year-Old Mumbai Girl Becomes the Youngest in Asia and the First Globally to Successfully Receive a Shoulder-Level Hand Transplant

Image credits: Press release

In a remarkable series of events, a 15-year-old girl from Goregaon, Mumbai, who lost her right hand due to electrocution in 2022, has received a new hand through a successful shoulder-level limb transplant. This teenager has made history as the youngest person in Asia and the first globally to undergo this procedure at shoulder level. The transplant, performed at Gleneagles Hospital in Mumbai, marks the 12th successful hand transplant at the facility, a leading transplant center in Western India. Notably, this was the first time in India that a hand transplant utilized the organ from a 9-year-old brain-dead donor from Surat, giving the young girl an incredible new opportunity.

The 12-hour surgery was expertly led by Dr. Nilesh G. Satbhai, Head of Plastic, Hand, and Reconstructive Microsurgery at Gleneagles Hospital, along with his team. Following her amputation just below the shoulder, the teenager is now on the path to regaining full movement and function in her new arm. She is overjoyed with the prospect of returning to school and continuing her life.

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As reported by press release, two years ago, 13-year-old Anamta Ahmad from Goregaon traveled to Aligarh, Uttar Pradesh, for a vacation, where she accidentally touched an 11KV wire, leading to severe burns. Her right hand developed gangrene and was amputated three times. Her left arm was also badly injured. Despite this devastating incident, Anamta and her family never lost hope.

Anamta showed incredible strength and determination, accepting the challenges and relearning various skills. She refused help from her family, chose to be independent, returned to school, and even taught herself to write with her left hand. She achieved an impressive 92% in her Class 10 exams, excelling in multiple subjects, including a remarkable score of 98 in Hindi in May 2024. Her resilience has been a testament to her unwavering spirit and refusal to give up on her dreams.

The family tirelessly explored solutions, realizing that a hand transplant was the only viable option for Anamta’s situation. After being turned down by multiple hospitals in India, Singapore, and Thailand due to the high-level amputation, they finally consulted Dr. Satbhai at Gleneagles Hospital. Following a detailed preoperative evaluation, Anamta was placed on the transplant list, and after more than a year of waiting, they received the life-changing news of a suitable donor.

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Dr. Satbhai explained, “We were informed by local authorities about a 9-year-old girl from Surat who had been declared brain-dead due to a brain tumor. After being counseled by a local NGO, the family generously agreed to donate the organ, and the transplant arrangements were swiftly made.”

He further added, “Hand transplantation is a highly complex procedure, requiring a thorough assessment of the recipient, especially when there is significant scarring from the original injury. In Anamta’s case, we had to repair blood vessels and nerves at a very high level under the clavicle, making the surgery extremely challenging. It was crucial to restore circulation within six hours to ensure the success of the transplant. The surgery took around 12 hours and involved a coordinated effort by surgeons, anesthesiologists, immunologists, and intensive care physicians. Anamta is recovering well and remains in the ICU for observation. She will require lifelong immunosuppression, and her rehabilitation will begin soon. Full functional recovery typically takes 9-12 months after such a proximal transplant.”

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