In a groundbreaking case, a Vietnamese woman has given birth to twin boys just 10 days after surviving a 13-hour hand reattachment surgery, following a life-threatening workplace accident.

On the morning of December 8, doctors at Binh Duong General Hospital successfully performed a C-section for L.N.P., a patient who just days earlier had undergone an unprecedented limb reattachment procedure. Her twin boys were born healthy - the first at 9:05 AM, weighing 2.3 kg, and the second at 9:07 AM, weighing 2.4 kg - bringing tears of joy to her family and medical team.

A life-altering accident at 21 weeks pregnant

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The twin boys were born healthy, just 10 days after their mother’s 13-hour surgery. (Photo: Hospital provided)

In late September, while 21 weeks pregnant, P. was involved in a horrific workplace accident. She nodded off briefly during a shift, and her right arm was caught in a machine roller, causing a 15-centimeter segment of flesh and bone to be destroyed. Her hand was nearly severed.

Facing an extremely complex and rare situation, lead surgeon Dr. Vo Thai Trung and the hospital team made a bold decision: they temporarily grafted the severed hand onto her leg to keep it alive - a technique rarely attempted in any circumstance, and never in a pregnant woman.

Two months later: a miracle reattachment

On November 17, P. returned to the hospital in stable condition. Ultrasounds confirmed both fetuses were healthy at 34 weeks. Determined to regain functionality and care for her children, P. expressed her wish to proceed with the hand reattachment.

On November 28, a team of specialists performed a 13-hour marathon surgery. They meticulously connected blood vessels, nerves, and tendons. After surgery, the hand showed good perfusion and oxygen saturation of 98–100% at the fingertips. The patient was alert, eating well, and already able to move her fingers slightly with physiotherapy support.

World medical first, national recognition

Experts say this is the first known case globally of a pregnant woman undergoing such a complex limb graft and reattachment while successfully carrying twins to term. In recognition of this medical miracle, Ho Chi Minh City authorities awarded commendations to Dr. Vo Thai Trung and the surgical team.

This case is not only a landmark in Vietnam’s medical history but also a symbol of resilience, innovation, and the unwavering spirit of motherhood.

Phuong Thuy