Doctors, engineers and mechanics led an impossible surgery

Kolkata | Desk: An 18-year-old just before his exam timings had gone upstairs to the terrace to check water tank of the house faced an unfortunate accident, after his left hand got trapped in the sharp, arrow-like protrusions of a metal gate further led to two protrusions pierced his wrist and palm as he slipped down from the fourth floor. 

After the accident, the family called a mechanic to cut down the gate, but cutting the gate too close would risk burning in hand. Therefore, the mechanic cut from a safe distance leaving a large portion of his hand intact. 

Later the boy was taken to the Narayana Health-RN Tagore International Institute of Cardiac Sciences emergency room bleeding profusely. 

The metal grill was so large it was stuck to his hand that it was impossible to move it to the operating theater. Cutting it with a metal cutter could burn his hand due to the heat and sparks. Consequently, the hospital's own engineers, mechanics, and AC department technicians were called in.

They devised a plan. They first tried using a hacksaw, but that didn't work. An electric cutter was then used. During the cutting, 20 bottles of cold saline water were poured onto the boy's hand, and fire extinguisher foam was sprayed to protect him from heat and sparks. A large portion of the gate was removed in about 10 minutes.

The boy was then taken to the operating room, where two metal arrows were carefully removed. His right hand, which was also broken in the accident, underwent a second surgery. He is now stable, and doctors are preparing for a skin graft.

Dr. Surya Uday Singh, an orthopedic surgeon, explained that this case was unique. Teamwork was the key to saving the boy's life. The boy was about to appear for his higher secondary exams but is now recovering in the hospital.