Successful Digital Replantation in a Resource-Limited Kenyan Hospital: A Case Report and Discussion

Replantation of an amputated finger is a complex microsurgical procedure that is rarely attempted in low-resource settings due to limited infrastructure and expertise. We report a case of complete amputation of a finger in rural Kenya that was successfully replanted during a humanitarian surgical mission. A 28-year-old man sustained a severe crush avulsion agricultural machine injury resulting in the amputation of all ten digits; only one digit was deemed suitable for replantation. The replantation was performed under loupe and microscope magnification by a visiting specialist team in collaboration with local staff. Intraoperatively, bony fixation with Kirschner wires, extensor and flexor digitorum profundus tendon repair, arterial and venous anastomoses, and neurorrhaphy of the digital nerve were achieved. Postoperatively, the finger survived with adequate perfusion. At one-month follow-up, the replanted finger was viable with progressing wound healing and early joint motion; further rehabilitation was arranged to maximize functional recovery. This case, which is, to our knowledge, one of the first documented digital replantations in East Africa, illustrates that successful microsurgical limb salvage is feasible in a non-specialized hospital setting. Our experience underscores that, with proper planning, training, and teamwork, advanced reconstructive procedures like finger replantation can be safely carried out even in resource-constrained hospitals, offering patients in low-income regions outcomes previously achievable only in high-resource centers.