On the afternoon of 28/9, a crane collided with a concrete welcome gate in Huong Phong village, Huong Khe commune, Ha Tinh province. The structure collapsed, hitting Nguyen Duc Thang, who was riding on a motorbike with his mother. Thang suffered a severed right hand and was immediately rushed to the emergency room.

Nguyen Hoai Nam, Director of Nghe An Orthopedic and Trauma Hospital, stated on the morning of 29/9 that Thang had arrived at the hospital a day earlier with a completely severed hand and a severely crushed forearm. Doctors spent 7 hours on initial treatment to stabilize the boy's condition.

Due to severe damage to the boy's forearm, doctors could not reattach the hand directly to the arm because of a high risk of necrosis. The surgical team decided to temporarily connect the severed hand to the vascular system in his lower leg. This procedure aims to maintain blood flow and preserve the viability of the limb.

Following the temporary graft, Thang will be monitored in the intensive care unit for 5-7 days to assess the hand's viability and plan subsequent treatment.

Doctors temporarily attached the hand to the leg to maintain viability of the severed limb. *Photo: Hoai Nam*

Doctor Pham Xuan Binh, the lead surgeon, confirmed that the boy's health is now stable, and the hand remains pink, indicating good blood circulation. Doctors will continue to monitor his condition, waiting for the crushed wounds to stabilize and show no signs of infection before transferring the hand from his leg back to his arm.

"Our goal is to do our utmost to save the boy's hand," Doctor Binh stated, adding, "However, to achieve this, the patient will have to undergo many complex surgeries."

The boy is currently anemic. The hospital has contacted the Hematology Center to secure a blood supply for him. Should the available blood supply prove insufficient, the hospital plans to mobilize its staff to donate blood.

The moment the welcome gate collapsed, afternoon 28/9. *Video: Residential security camera*

Duc Hung