Recently, the hand surgery team at the Chegu campus of Wuhan Union Hospital used artificial dermis-induced free skin grafting and finger separation techniques to successfully separate the complex syndactyly of a Kosovo child who traveled to China for medical treatment.The child is currently recovering well.
Professor Chen Jianghai interacts with Numa
Numa(pseudonym), a girl from Kosovo who is less than a year old, was born with a congenital deformity of her right hand, diagnosed as a rare and complex syndactyly.Her parents consulted with plastic surgeons from Germany, France, Hungary, Turkey, and other countries.That such rare cases are seldom seen, and with the current technology in their respective countries, they could only separate two fingers at most.The surgery is complex, requiring multiple procedures, and the risk is high.
Numa's parents found extensive information online and learned that the hand surgery department at Wuhan Union Hospital has extensive experience in treating pediatric hand and foot deformities and is the first medical institution internationally to use artificial dermis-induced free skin grafting and finger separation techniques.They promptly contacted Professor Chen Jianghai from the hand surgery department at the Chegu campus of Union Hospital via email.
After analyzing Numa's condition and examination reports, Professor Chen Jianghai informed them that similar cases had been successfully treated in China.With two surgeries, Numa can separate out three fingers .At Wuhan Union Hospital, babies as young as 6 months old can undergo surgery, and the earlier the treatment, the better for the child's hand growth and development.Professor Chen's words reignited hope in the couple, and they planned to bring their child to China for treatment.
However, due to Numa's young age, there were unexpected issues in applying for a visa and arranging the trip to China.It is very likely that they won't be able to come to China at the optimal time for the surgery.After learning about this situation, the Consular Section of the Chinese Embassy in Serbia and the office in Pristina contacted Professor Chen to confirm the child's condition and treatment plan.They specially processed a visa for Numa, clearing the final obstacles for her medical treatment in China.
On December 10, 2023, Numa's parents, with her, embarked on a journey from Kosovo, enduring several hours of flying and multiple layovers before reaching Wuhan.
Numa's first on-site diagnosis
Upon arriving at Wuhan Union Hospital, due to the complexity of Numa's right hand deformity, there was no outline or shape of the fingers, and the entire hand resembled a small shovel.X-rays showed only three incomplete finger bones and two palm bones, making the surgery extremely challenging.After departmental discussions, Professor Chen Jianghai decided to divide the surgery into two phases.The first phase involved separating syndactyly, reconstructing the thumb, which accounts for the highest functional portion of the hand, and creating first web space to facilitate the growth and development of the child's hand.The second phase involved constructing two independent finger structures from the remaining parts of the palm.
pre-operation
Professor Chen is performing the surgery
In the subsequent three months, Numa underwent the artificial dermis-induced free skin grafting and finger separation surgery twice.After the surgery, Numa received meticulous care from the hand surgery medical team.During her hospitalization, the medical staff knew that this family had traveled a long way to seek medical treatment in China and understood their challenges.They cared deeply about the family's daily life.
On March 21st, coinciding with Numa's first birthday, the medical staff celebrated for her
After Numa was discharged from the hospital, her parents took her to the outpatient clinic for a weekly check-up.Professor Chen Jianghai patiently examined her recovery, explained post-operative care instructions to the parents, and the parents were full of anticipation for Numa's recovery.
Professor Chen Jianghai stated: "Numa's condition is quite complex, requiring the separation of three fingers, demanding a high level of surgical precision.After separating syndactyly, to cover the wound, skin grafting is usually required.However, skin grafting can leave scars on other parts of the child's body and may also result in necrosis, hyperpigmentation, and decreased sensory function in the donor area.After communicating with Numa's parents, we adopted the method of artificial dermis-induced free skin grafting, avoiding skin grafting by covering the wound with artificial dermis and inducing the surrounding normal skin to grow towards the center.The newly grown skin is similar to the original skin."
Professor Chen examined Numa's wound
Shortly after the first surgery, Numa could already use her "new thumb" to perform some simple activities.The second surgery has now been successfully completed.Once the wound heals, the little girl will be able to use her right hand to start a new life.Although the process of establishing the new hand function will be lengthy, her parents are confident about it.