Problems In Hand Graft

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31209, 5 November 1966, Page 1

Problems In Hand Graft

One of the main problems in the unsuccessful attempt to graft a boy’s severed left hand on to his arm concerned the working of the veins, Christchurch Hospital authorities said yesterday. Surgeons yesterday amputated the hand after an examination showed that it could not survive. Circulation and the small size of the tissues had been difficult factors in the operation, the superintendent-in-chief (Dr. L. McH Berry) said yesterday. The veins in the hand did not follow any particular pattern, and this had meant problems in circulation.

He said chances of this type of operation being successful were rather slim. It was also uncommon for circumstances to be favourable for an attempt at grafting. However, when they were, and when it was worth trying, surgeons in New Zealand would generally attempt a graft. Dr. Berry said similar operations had apparently been successful in China and South Africa. Grafts had also been attempted in the United States. The deputy medical superintendent (Dr. W. I. Paterson) said staff at the hospital were rather sad at the failure of the operation. But the attempt was really worthwhile, and the knowledge gained would assist in similar cases in the future. Similar grafts were at-

tempted in New Zealand, but usually the public did not hear about them. He did not know of a successful operation of this type being performed in this country. The boy, Richard Lentjes, is the son of a Brookside farmer. His hand was severed in a farm mower at Doyleston on Saturday. The boy would stay in hospital until his arm had healed, said Dr. Paterson. An artificial hand would be fitted later. Yesterday morning, the surgeon who led the team involved in the operation decided to have a closer look at the hand under anaesthetic. After the examination, the surgeon decided the hand could not survive, and would be better amputated. The amputation took more than an hour.