WORLD NEWS – VIETNAM: At Binh Duong General Hospital a rare and dramatic surgical decision unfolded when a young pregnant factory worker arrived with a nearly severed hand following an industrial accident. The patient, identified as LNB and not yet 20 years old, was 23 weeks into a twin pregnancy. Multidisciplinary teams faced the dual imperative of preserving maternal and fetal safety while salvaging the patient’s hand.
Surgeons made an extraordinary choice to perform a temporary transplant of the amputated hand onto the patient’s leg to maintain blood flow and tissue viability until definitive replantation could be attempted. Teams from trauma and orthopedic surgery, obstetrics, anesthesiology, and critical care coordinated the complex operation. The procedure began at 17:00 and continued through the night, concluding at 03:00 the next morning, according to treating surgeon Vo Thai Trung.
Postoperative updates indicate both the mother and the twin fetuses are stable and the transplanted hand on the leg is progressing well. Medical staff emphasize that the temporary transplantation preserves the hand’s tissues and offers the best chance for later reattachment, potentially allowing the young mother to care for her children with her own hands. The plan is to reassess and attempt final replantation when the pregnancy reaches around 32 weeks.
The case highlights surgical creativity under pressure and the coordinated efforts of specialists at the hospital. It also underscores the ethical and clinical balancing act when treating a pregnant trauma patient. All members of the care team are portrayed with admiration for their rapid mobilization and technical skill in executing the temporary transplant and protecting both mother and unborn children. Hospital officials described the technique as rare but lifesaving for limb preservation. The team will continue close monitoring of maternal and fetal parameters while preparing for a complex replantation once fetal maturity allows soon.
