Doctors at a Dubai hospital have successfully reattached the severed hand of a worker after an accident at work.
Pyae Phyo Aung, 37, a labourer from Myanmar, was working on a heavy shipment at Dubai Ports on February 26 when his left hand became caught in ropes used for mooring the boat.
The immense pressure from the ropes severed his hand from his wrist leaving it hanging by a small part of skin.
Dubai Ambulance paramedics immediately took Mr Pyae to the emergency department at NMC Royal Hospital in the emirate where a team of doctors and nurses managed to save his hand.
“The patient and his company managers were informed of the necessity to reattach the hand immediately under general anaesthesia,” said Dr Adil Ali, a plastic and reconstructive surgery specialist at the hospital.
He said the man had lost a significant amount of blood and was in a critical condition when he arrived at the hospital.
Dr Vikas Verma, a reconstructive surgery consultant who was on the team, said severed bones, arteries, veins and tendons all needed reattaching.
He explained the complex and lengthy process could be performed by surgeons with extensive experience in handling microvascular hand injuries.
“A successful hand replantation is the best method to restore the function and shape of the hand, and no prosthesis can match it,” said Dr Verma.
However, he said it was rare for a procedure such as this one to result in a fully functioning hand.
In an operation that took more than 10 hours, Dr Ali and the plastic and reconstructive surgery team restored blood flow to the amputated hand after reconnecting arteries, veins and tendons.
Meanwhile, Dr Mohammed Selim and the orthopaedic team focused on reconstructing the detached bones.
Dr Surjya Upadhyay, head of anaesthesiology and pain management, said Mr Pyae underwent four additional operations in March.
“The surgeries involved tendon transfers, nerve repair and skin repair to restore hand function and movement,” he said.
After the procedure the patient remained under strict monitoring to prevent complications.
“After a course of physiotherapy and occupational therapy, it is anticipated that Mr Pyae will be able to nearly fully restore hand function,” said Dr Mohammed.
He said the recovery of nerves and bones could take six to 12 months.
“The patient has a long journey ahead to regain complete function and movement of his hand but it's most likely he will be able to return to his work.”
Mr Pyae, who arrived in the UAE 18 months ago for work, expressed his gratitude to the doctors who saved his hand.
“My family and I will forever be grateful to the doctors and nurses at this hospital,” he said.
“I am the sole breadwinner for my family of my mother, wife and three-year-old daughter who are back in Myanmar.
“I haven't seen them since I began working here.”
He was discharged at the end of March, after which he flew back to his homeland.
“The replantation of tissues and limbs is successful if the operation is carried out as quickly as possible, ideally within four hours of the injury, and if the amputated parts were properly preserved,” said Dr Ananth Pai, medical director of the hospital and a specialist in general and laparoscopic surgery.
Despite complete amputation incidents being rare, this was not a first for the hospital that has been operating since 2014.
In 2020 doctors at NMC reattached the hand of a worker who had arrived carrying it in a plastic bag.
“The man was working on a sharp machine at a nearby factory when his hand was severed and fell inside the machine,” said Dr Verma.
The patient had almost full hand function restored after successful surgery, he added.
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Red Sparrow
Dir: Francis Lawrence
Starring: Jennifer Lawrence, Joel Egerton, Charlotte Rampling, Jeremy Irons
Three stars
UPI facts
More than 2.2 million Indian tourists arrived in UAE in 2023
More than 3.5 million Indians reside in UAE
Indian tourists can make purchases in UAE using rupee accounts in India through QR-code-based UPI real-time payment systems
Indian residents in UAE can use their non-resident NRO and NRE accounts held in Indian banks linked to a UAE mobile number for UPI transactions
From Europe to the Middle East, economic success brings wealth - and lifestyle diseases
A rise in obesity figures and the need for more public spending is a familiar trend in the developing world as western lifestyles are adopted.
One in five deaths around the world is now caused by bad diet, with obesity the fastest growing global risk. A high body mass index is also the top cause of metabolic diseases relating to death and disability in Kuwait, Qatar and Oman – and second on the list in Bahrain.
In Britain, heart disease, lung cancer and Alzheimer’s remain among the leading causes of death, and people there are spending more time suffering from health problems.
The UK is expected to spend $421.4 billion on healthcare by 2040, up from $239.3 billion in 2014.
And development assistance for health is talking about the financial aid given to governments to support social, environmental development of developing countries.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Find the right policy for you
Don’t wait until the week you fly to sign up for insurance – get it when you book your trip. Insurance covers you for cancellation and anything else that can go wrong before you leave.
Some insurers, such as World Nomads, allow you to book once you are travelling – but, as Mr Mohammed found out, pre-existing medical conditions are not covered.
Check your credit card before booking insurance to see if you have any travel insurance as a benefit – most UAE banks, such as Emirates NBD, First Abu Dhabi Bank and Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank, have cards that throw in insurance as part of their package. But read the fine print – they may only cover emergencies while you’re travelling, not cancellation before a trip.
Pre-existing medical conditions such as a heart condition, diabetes, epilepsy and even asthma may not be included as standard. Again, check the terms, exclusions and limitations of any insurance carefully.
If you want trip cancellation or curtailment, baggage loss or delay covered, you may need a higher-grade plan, says Ambareen Musa of Souqalmal.com. Decide how much coverage you need for emergency medical expenses or personal liability. Premium insurance packages give up to $1 million (Dh3.7m) in each category, Ms Musa adds.
Don’t wait for days to call your insurer if you need to make a claim. You may be required to notify them within 72 hours. Gather together all receipts, emails and reports to prove that you paid for something, that you didn’t use it and that you did not get reimbursed.
Finally, consider optional extras you may need, says Sarah Pickford of Travel Counsellors, such as a winter sports holiday. Also ensure all individuals can travel independently on that cover, she adds. And remember: “Cheap isn’t necessarily best.”
The five pillars of Islam
1. Fasting
2. Prayer
3. Hajj
4. Shahada
5. Zakat
KILLING OF QASSEM SULEIMANI
Other key dates
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Finals draw: December 2
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Finals (including semi-finals and third-placed game): June 5–9, 2019
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Euro 2020 play-off draw: November 22, 2019
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Euro 2020 play-offs: March 26–31, 2020
RESULT
Argentina 0 Croatia 3
Croatia: Rebic (53'), Modric (80'), Rakitic (90' 1)
Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
- Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
- Flexible payment plans from developers
- Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
- DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
The bio
Favourite book: Kane and Abel by Jeffrey Archer
Favourite quote: “The world makes way for the man who knows where he is going.” - Ralph Waldo Emerson, American essayist
Favourite Authors: Arab poet Abu At-Tayyib Al-Mutanabbi
Favourite Emirati food: Luqaimat, a deep-fried dough soaked in date syrup
Hobbies: Reading and drawing
BMW M5 specs
Engine: 4.4-litre twin-turbo V-8 petrol enging with additional electric motor
Power: 727hp
Torque: 1,000Nm
Transmission: 8-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 10.6L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh650,000
Porsche Macan T: The Specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4-cyl turbo
Power: 265hp from 5,000-6,500rpm
Torque: 400Nm from 1,800-4,500rpm
Transmission: 7-speed dual-clutch auto
Speed: 0-100kph in 6.2sec
Top speed: 232kph
Fuel consumption: 10.7L/100km
On sale: May or June
Price: From Dh259,900
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