X-rays of Lelliott's hand before (top) and after the initial emergency surgery. Credit: St George’s University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Anthony Lelliott was cutting flooring with a chop saw when he sliced through bones in his left hand. He was rushed to St George’s Hospital, where he underwent a 13-hour emergency surgery. The surgeon, who later described the procedure as “the most complex I’ve ever had to deal with,” was unable to save one of Lelliott’s fingers, but was able to place pins to save others, using nerve and vein grafts from Lelliott’s foot and forearm, The Sun reported.
When the surgeons realized the hand did not have enough skin to close the severe wound, they employed what is known as a “pedicled groin flap,” in which they cut a section of Lelliott’s groin, lifted it like a flap and covered the hand, which had been reattached to Lelliot’s arm by this point, and then sewed it all together.
Lelliott’s hand was sewn to his groin for two weeks in order for the groin skin to develop new roots and transfer to the hand, according to the report.
The procedure was a success, and Lelliott has already begun to regain movement in the hand.
“Words can’t describe it because I was expecting to wake up without a hand,” Lelliott said in a press release. “It’s just trying to get it to work now. It’s unbelievable really, I’m so grateful.”
