A student who lost his thumb in a terrorist attack is finally able to do simple tasks again after having his toe transplanted onto his hand.
Student Irfaan-ul-lah, 22, from Kabul, Afghanistan, was caught up in a bomb blast two years ago that caused him to lose his right thumb and three fingers.
He described the past two years as ‘terrible’, saying the loss made it considerably more difficult for him to carry out even simple day-to-day activities.
Yet, after two years of desperately searching for a solution, Irfaan-ul-lah finally found a doctor who was able to perform the seven hour toe-to-thumb surgery.
Irfaan-ul-lah said: ‘Now I can at least perform my regular activities and am no longer dependent on others all the time.’
A student who lost his thumb in a terror attack has had his toe transplanted onto his hand
Irfaan-ul-lah lost his right thumb and three fingers in a bomb blast two years ago
He described it as ‘terrible’ as he is unable to carry out even simple day-to-day activities
‘I can perform my regular activities’
After successful surgery, Irfaan-ul-lah is now able to hold objects with his right hand and can carry out routine activities without any hassle.
He said: ‘I used to feel helpless as I was not able to do any work on my own.
‘I am thankful to the doctors for their efforts and now I can at least perform my regular activities and am no longer dependent on others all the time.’
Irfaan-ul-lah had to travel to Noida in India to have the surgery at Jaypee Hospital.
He was kept under observation for a week after the surgery and doctors are hopeful he will be able to regain full function in his right hand.
Irfaan-ul-lah is due to have an additional procedure in which another finger will be implanted on his right hand, enabling him to lead a fully independent life.
After feeling helpless, Irfaan-ul-lah says he is no longer dependent on others for assistance
‘We cut the toe and implanted in in the place of his lost thumb’
Dr Ashish Raj, senior consultant of reconstructive surgery at the hospital, said: ‘First, we assessed the patient’s hand to find out the extent of loss to bones, joints, tendons, arteries and veins.
‘Then the team of doctors decided to implant the second toe of his left foot to his right hand and give it the structure of a thumb.
‘We measured the length of the patient’s thumb and, according to its size and the damage incurred, we cut the second toe of his left foot and implanted it in the place of his lost thumb.’