Doctors Restore Both Hands Of Mother Injured In Railway Accident Through Rare Transplant

A young mother of two has successfully undergone a bilateral hand transplant at Sir Ganga Ram Hospital in New Delhi , after receiving both upper limbs from a brain-dead woman donor , in a rare and highly complex reconstructive surgery.

The patient had lost both hands in a railway track accident in 2020 , after which she became completely dependent on others for daily activities. She had also undergone unsuccessful prosthetic trials , leaving limited options for functional recovery.

The life-changing transplant became possible after the family of Meena Mehta, a former school administrator who was declared brain-dead , consented to donate her organs. Her generous decision also enabled multiple organ donations, including kidneys, liver, and corneas , saving several lives in addition to restoring the patient’s hands.

Doctors confirmed that this is the second bilateral hand transplant performed at Sir Ganga Ram Hospital , following an earlier landmark case in 2024, which was the first successful such procedure in Delhi .

The 12-hour surgery was performed by a large multidisciplinary team of around 11–12 specialists , including experts in plastic surgery, orthopaedics, anaesthesia, neurology, and intensive care. The procedure involved precise reconstruction of bones, blood vessels, muscles, tendons, nerves, and skin , along with microsurgical techniques to restore blood flow and limb viability.

Surgeons said the operation required extreme coordination, where each step—from skeletal fixation to nerve alignment—was critical for graft survival. The goal, they emphasised, was not only anatomical restoration but also regaining functional independence and dignity .

Post-surgery, the patient is under close monitoring and will require long-term immunosuppressive therapy, physiotherapy, and rehabilitation , which doctors say will determine the extent of functional recovery over time.

Hospital officials expressed gratitude to the donor’s family, calling their decision a life-giving act that has transformed multiple lives and reaffirmed the importance of organ donation.