Sunshine Coast surgeon completes region's first toe-to-thumb transplant after factory injury
An East Timorese factory worker who lost her thumb in January received the Sunshine Coast's inaugural toe-to-thumb transfer in July, with doctors expecting about 80% restoration of thumb function.
After a conveyor-belt accident in January left East Timorese migrant Francisca Amaral without her left thumb, she faced a daunting recovery while supporting family back home. In July, Chandan Jadhav, a plastic surgeon with prior experience in India, carried out the Sunshine Coast's first toe-to-thumb transfer at Sunshine Coast University Private Hospital, a 12-hour microsurgery that moved her entire second toe, including bone, tendons, nerves and blood vessels, to the forearm.
The graft was fixed with plates and screws and re-connected to the hand’s circulatory system under a microscope at 12.5× magnification. Post-op, Amaral reported pain but expressed optimism, noting the medical team's support. She will undergo hand therapy weekly for the next six to twelve months, with clinicians anticipating at least 80% restoration of thumb function and a significant boost to overall hand capability. The surgery highlights the potential of advanced reconstructive techniques for severe hand injuries.
Why it matters
It shows how advanced microsurgery can restore function after severe workplace injuries, offering hope to similar victims.
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