Doctors at the Kenyatta National Hospital have successfully operated on a 17-year old who has his arm reattached after it was completely cut off by a chaff cutter.
Joseph Thairu’s arm was cut off while cleaning a chaff cutter after feeding the cows at their home in Kiambaa, Kiambu County.
He was rushed to KNH ten hours after the accident happened. Doctors at KNH took about one and a half hours to identify structures in his arm.
Thereafter, a multidisciplinary medical team made of surgeons, orthopaedic surgeons, anaesthetists and nurses undertook a grueling 7-hour surgery on the young man.
The team’s first task was to restore blood flow by reconnecting the arteries.
The severed part is thereafter required to be sealed in a plastic bag and placed on ice. Ice in direct contact with the severed part will damage the issues and make the reattachment difficult.
The surgery cost Sh1.2 million. Part of this money will be paid by the National Hospital Insurance Fund (NHIF).