Man regains thumb through ‘first limb transplant’ in Cumilla

Ashraful Alam, a former driver in Saudi Arabia, lost his left thumb in a road accident in 2024. Unable to continue working, he returned to his home in Kapasia, Gazipur, and visited several hospitals without success -- until he found hope at Cumilla People’s Hospital.

In what doctors say is the “first of its kind” in Cumilla, a team of surgeons has successfully transplanted a toe onto Ashraful’s hand to replace the severed thumb, marking a breakthrough in limb reconstruction in a Bangladeshi district hospital.

Last week, a three-member surgical team led by Dr Kamrul Islam Mamun performed a complex seven-hour operation, transplanting Ashraful’s second toe from his left foot to his hand.

The procedure was conducted under high risk, with doctors giving him only a 50 percent chance of success.

Speaking to reporters, Dr Mamun said: “This is the first case of organ transplant of its kind in Cumilla. We haven’t seen such procedures done in district towns before.

“Just last week, we also successfully reattached a severed hand at another private hospital here. Now, with this successful digit transplant, we believe it’s a ray of hope for healthcare.”

He added that the nerves in the transplanted toe have started responding, the colouring looks healthy, and it is expected to adapt to the hand over the next few weeks gradually.

Dr Kausar Hamid, associate professor of orthopaedics at Cumilla Central Medical College Hospital, described the operation as a landmark for regional medical services.

“We had never witnessed such a procedure before in Cumilla. This can serve as a model for expanding complex surgeries outside major cities.”

Ashraful expressed gratitude for the opportunity: “I had been to many hospitals in Bangladesh and even in Saudi Arabia. Everywhere, the treatment was unaffordable. I never imagined my thumb could be restored in Cumilla.”

“My only source of income is driving. Without a thumb, I couldn’t even hold the steering wheel. Now I feel like I have my thumb back -- I can sense it again. I hope to drive once I recover,” he said.

District civil surgeon Dr Ali Noor Mohammad Bashir Ahmad said such complex surgeries in a district town could become a milestone, allowing people to receive advanced care locally at far lower costs than abroad.