13-Year-Old Child Undergoes Toe-to-Hand Finger Transplant in Istanbul

Thirteen-year-old Baran Tanzi, who got his right hand caught in a mincing machine on April 19 while working as an apprentice at a butcher shop in Avcılar, Istanbul, has entered the process of recovering his health through an operation performed at Prof. Dr. Cemil Taşcıoğlu City Hospital.

Living in Istanbul, 13-year-old Baran Tanzi had lost all five fingers simultaneously on April 19 when he got his right hand caught in a mincing machine while working as an apprentice at a butcher shop. Taken to Prof. Dr. Cemil Taşcıoğlu City Hospital, it was determined that even his sole surviving thumb could not be reattached due to severe trauma.

In accordance with plans made by the plastic, reconstructive, and aesthetic surgery team, the second toe of the patient's left foot was transplanted onto his hand as a thumb on October 6 in a successful surgery lasting approximately 10 hours. The operation was performed by Prof. Dr. Ethem Güneren, Op. Dr. Mehmet Fatih Çamlı, and their teams. Having completed his treatment and been discharged, it was reported that Tanzi's splints and fixation equipment will be removed after 1 month and he will begin an intensive physical therapy process.