Landmark Hand Transplant, Giving Engineer a New Life

landmark-hand-transplant-giving-engineer-a-new-life
Photo credits: Press release

A New Beginning for Hritik Singh Parihar

Dr. Nilesh Satbhai and his team at Gleneagles Hospital, Parel, Mumbai, successfully performed the hospital’s first-hand transplant of 2025. The surgery gave a new lease of life to 26-year-old engineer Hritik Singh Parihar, who lost both hands in a tragic train accident. This was the 13th successful hand transplant at the hospital, bringing the total number of transplanted hands to 24.

A Devastating Train Accident

In 2016, at just 18 years old, Hritik suffered a life-altering accident while traveling from Indore to Mumbai. As he switched trains at Pune’s Chinchwad station, he was accidentally pushed and fell between two trains. The accident led to the amputation of both arms at the shoulder level. As the sole breadwinner for his aging parents, he faced immense physical, emotional, and financial struggles.

Overcoming Challenges with Determination

As per the press release, despite his disability, Hritik persevered. He completed his education, secured a job as an engineer, and adapted to daily life by mastering tasks with his feet. He used his feet to operate a laptop and mobile phone, determined to support his family. However, he longed for a normal life. This hope brought him to Gleneagles Hospital, where he consulted Dr. Nilesh Satbhai, a leading hand transplant surgeon.

Also Read |  Breakthrough in Malaria Research: Human Antibodies Identified to Combat Severe Cases

A Life-Changing Surgery

After months of preparation and waiting for a donor, Hritik’s dream came true. On December 30, 2024, doctors performed a 15-hour complex surgery using hands donated by a 69-year-old individual from Indore. Due to the near-shoulder amputation level, the procedure was rare and technically demanding.

Dr. Satbhai stated, “This was a challenging case due to the high amputation level. With the expertise of a multidisciplinary team, we repaired the blood vessels, nerves, and bones with precision. He is expected to regain reasonable hand function within 9-12 months.”