The First Replantation of Severed Limb

　　In 1963, the Sixth People's Hospital of Shanghai succeeded in the first case of replantation of a severed hand in the world.

　　Replantation is the reattachment of a part that has been completely severed from the body. This is to be distinguished from revascularization where the limb has been incompletely amputated and a portion of the tissue remains in continuity. In this situation, venous and/or lymphatic drainage will frequently exist across the wound.

　　After careful physical therapy and cooperation of the patient, the severed limb recovered its function gradually. The limb completely recovered its feeling ability, was able to sweat, and its small muscle functioned well.

　　With the wide application, this innovation has brought about substantial benefits to many patients. In the early 1960s, this program was awarded the National Invention Prize. The participators of this program included Chen Zhongwei, Qian Yunqing and Wang Zhijin of the Sixth People's Hospital of Shanghai, Xu Yinkan of the Subsidiary Hospital of the Second Military Medical University in Shanghai, and Xi Xuequan of the Subsidiary Hospital of Jiangsu Medical College.