Professor’s severed hand likely to regain sensation

The Thodupuzha, Newman College professor T.J. Joseph, who was attacked by a gang a fortnight ago, may be able to use his severed hand again.

“We expect Mr. Joseph’s hand to function reasonably well in a few months,” Dr. R. Jayakumar, a leading micro-vascular surgeon in Kerala, who stitched Mr. Joseph’s hand back in a 16-hour marathon surgery at Specialists Hospital here, told The Hindu.

He said the surgery, which was very complicated, was successfully completed. The professor would regain sensation in his hand in three months. However, he would have to stay at the hospital for another couple of weeks for more surgeries on the other wounded hand and leg.

Dr. Jayakumar pointed out that the right hand of Mr. Joseph had been chopped off at the wrist. He had lost a lot of blood and it took 12 bottles of blood to resuscitate him. A lot of tissues was lost in front of his forearm and had to be replaced with tissues from his thigh. The entire ‘re-plantation’ surgery was conducted under the microscope. The operation took a long time as the severed blood vessels and nerves had to be reconnected.

Mr. Joseph has deep wounds on his leg and the left hand and would need more surgeries which would be done next week.

Ms. Salome Joseph, the professor’s wife, told The Hindu that her husband was still in acute pain and was unable to move his limbs. “His body is very weak and he is suffering a lot,” she said.

Ms. Joseph said the State Government had given the family Rs. 4 lakh towards meeting the medical expenses. The money came from the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund and the cheque was handed in by a tahsildar.