A young man who lost his thumb in a workplace accident is now using his hand again. He regained function after undergoing the country’s first toe-to-thumb surgery. A team of Bhutanese and German surgeons performed the procedure four months ago, giving him a second chance at independence.
25-year-old Karma is recovering well, four months after undergoing the reconstruction surgery.
Karma had lost three fingers on his right hand, including his thumb, while operating a planer machine. His fingers were too badly crushed to be reattached. Doctors transplanted a toe from his left foot to his right hand to replace the missing thumb.
He spent more than a month in the hospital following the surgery.
More than a month later, Karma developed an infection in his foot. Doctors treated the wound and restitched it after cleaning the infection.
According to doctors, the infection occurred because he put weight on the foot too early. Walking barefoot also made the wound more vulnerable.
Despite these challenges, Karma says the surgery has made a big difference in his life.
“If we do not have a thumb, we cannot do our work. Since my toe has been transplanted to the missing thumb, it helps me a lot.”
After being discharged, Karma began physiotherapy to regain movement in both his hand and foot. In the first two months, even basic movements were difficult. Today, he can do daily tasks on his own.
“Compared to before, I can move my hand and also do other work. For instance, I can wash dishes, and I can also wash my own clothes.”
Karma continues physiotherapy as his hand is still slightly stiff.
For him, the surgery has restored not just movement, but independence.
The success of the procedure also marks an important step forward for reconstructive surgery in the country, offering new hope for patients with similar injuries in the future.
Singye Dema
Edited by Sonam Pem
