Man’s thumb replaced with his TOE after he loses three digits in bomb blast

SURGEONS have replaced a man's thumb with his toe, after he lost three digits in a bomb blast.

Sojan KM lost the thumb, forefinger and middle finger from his right hand in the explosion in Kabul in 2015.

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But, thanks to groundbreaking techniques, doctors have crafted a new thumb for the 22-year-old, using one of his toes.

During the eight-hour op they removed the second toe from Sojan's left foot, and transplanted it on to his hand.

Sojan said: "The blast didn't only shatter my thumb and fingers, it shattered my confidence.

"Sitting at home with no work made me gradually slip into depression.

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"I started hating myself for the handicap caused by the accident.

"But I never gave in, and always believed that medical science would be able to find a solution to my problem."

Before the blast, Sojan worked as a bartender in Kochi, south-west India.

With just two fingers on his right hand he was unable to hold a glass, and was forced to quit his job.

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But, his prayers were eventually answered, when he was approached by doctors the private Aster MIMS hospital in Kerala.

After eight hours of cutting edge surgery the surgeons replaced his right thumb with his toe - moulding it to give it a more natural look.

The eight hour operation, which cost almost £2,000 was lead by Dr Krishnakumar who used cutting edge micro-surgical techniques.

Speaking after his op, an excited Sojan said: "I'm able to perform some activities with my right hand now.

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"The doctors haven't just given me a new thumb, they have given me a new hope of leading a normal life.

"I hope to have full functionality in the right thumb soon and I'm looking forward to going back to work."

Dr Krishnakumar, who lead the groundbreaking surgery, said: "Normally, the thumb provides half of hand function.

The doctors haven’t just given me a new thumb, they have given me a new hope of leading a normal life

Sojanafter his operation

"The other four fingers provide the rest. Without the thumb it's impossible to carry out any daily activities.

"It took about eight hours of complex backbreaking surgery to provide him with a new thumb.

"In the end it was all worth it when you realise you have given a young man a new lease of life."

Senior consultant Dr Ashish Raj, who also operated on the Sojan, said: "First, we assessed the patient's hand to find out the extent of loss to bones, joints, tendons, arteries and veins.

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"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."

Sojan's operation comes after Zac Mitchell, in Australia, underwent a similar op to transplant his big toe on to his hand after his thumb was ripped off when he was trampled by cows.

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