Worker's relief as surgeons help reattach severed hand
A RELIEVED 21-year-old will be able to pick up his children again after Swansea surgeons successfully reattached his severed hand.
Jarred Evans has praised the Welsh Centre for Burns and Plastic Surgery at Morriston Hospital after an accident at work left only his thumb still in place on his right hand.
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success Jarred Evans with Richard Karoo, consultant plastic surgeon, who led a 13-hour operation to save Mr Evans's hand.
The operation took 13 hours — but just two weeks later Mr Evans has regained movement and feeling.
Richard Karoo, consultant plastic surgeon, said his injuries were extremely rare and complex.
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"Jarred lost his hand mid palm, significantly damaging multiple veins and arteries to all his fingers," he said.
"This meant that once the hand was reattached with metal pins through the bones, blood wouldn't be able to flow back and forth to keep it alive.
"To repair this we used vein grafts from his legs and arms to replace the ones he had lost.
"Using a microscope and sutures as fine as hair we were able to successfully reconnect a blood supply to all fingers and palm.
"Reconstruction of the nerves and rejoining of the divided tendons was also undertaken at the same time to help get the feeling and movement back."
Grateful dad Mr Evans said he simply didn't know if his hand could be saved.
"As I waited in the anaesthetic room for the operation to start, I was really frightened," he said.
"When I woke up, I was amazed that it had been reattached.
"It is unbelievable what the staff are able to do here."
Mr Evans, of Tonypandy, added: "Having my hand back means everything to me; I can't thank the doctors and nurses enough.
"I have two small children, so I'll still be able to pick them up and do activities with them.
"I know I have a long road ahead of me, with a lot of rehabilitation over the next year or so, but it is absolutely brilliant what the team have been able to do already."
Mr Karoo said it was fantastic to have such expertise and facilities at the Welsh Centre for Burns and Plastic Surgery — a regional specialist centre.
Hand therapists will keep working with Mr Evans as his rehabilitation continues.
Mr Karoo said: "An injury like this is devastating for a patient and we never know when starting such a case if the reattachment of the limb will survive.
"However, I feel the positive impact of a successful operation like this, especially for someone as young as Jarred, is truly immeasurable."
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