Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH) cemented its position as a global leader in medical innovation by successfully performing the world’s first Transhumeral Targeted Sensory Reinnervation (ISR) surgery on one Moses Mwendwa, a 22-year-old software engineering student.
The surgery that lasted more than seven hours, led by a multdisciplinary team of surgcons, enabled Moses to feel sensation at the stump of his missing left hand for the first time since amputation.
Amputation leads to an imaginary feeling and perception of the presence of an amputated part (phantom limb) which is often associated with pain, disconfort and psychological torture.
TSR, an advanced surgical technique, reroutes nerves from an amputated limb to the remaining skin, creating a “sensory map” that allows the brain to perceive touch, temperature, and pain as if originating from the missing limb.
Moses’ life changed dramatically on January 12, 2025, when a fall led to compartment syndrome, a life-threatening condition that forced doctors to amputate his left arm above the elbow.
However, after months of physical and emotional recovery, he was offered a chance to participate in KNH’s historic TSR Surgical Camp, which took place between April 28 and May 2, 2025.
Following a successful operation that was undertaken on April 29, 2025, Moses became the first person in the world to undergo the procedure that not only restored sensation but also promised better prosthetic control and pain management.
The success of this milestone was made possible by a world-class team, including Prof. Ferdinand Nang’ole (Consultant Plastic Surgeon, KNH/UoN), Dr. Benjamin Wabwire (Head of Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery, KNH) and Prof. Alexander Gardetto (Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery Specialist, Italy). They were supported by Dr. Dorsi Jowi, consultant plastic surgeon at KNH, Dr. Christine Nyabuto, chief resident in plastic surgery at UON and Dr. Rachel Machiya, a resident orthopaedie surgeon also from UON.
Essential support was provided by the anaesthesia team led by Dr. John Manzia and Dr. Ruth Nyambara.
“This achievement is not just a medical breakthrough it’s a restoration of dignity, function, and hope,” said Dr. Wabwire. Moses’ jouney to this historie moment began tragically on Janary 12, 2025, when a fall on the stairs after a church service in Nairobi’s Zawani area caused catastrophie damage to his dominant left hand.
Initially brushing off the incident, Moses’ condition worsened three days later, with excruciating pain and alarming discolouration setting in.
After inconclusive diagnoses at two facilities, his desperate mother rushed him to KNH on Jamary 18, where doctors identified life-threatening compartment syndrome– a condition in wluch rising internal pressure cuts off blood flow.
Emergency surgeries followed a six-hour debridement on January 19 and, ultimately, a 2.5-hour amputation on Jaruary 24.
The procedures saved Moses’ life but cost him his arm.
The psychological toll was inmense.
Waking disoriented to find his limb gone, Moses and his mother endured weeks of grief before oconumane rehabilitation
A tuming point came during a clinical review on March 14, when doctors invited him to join KNH’s pioncering Targeted Sensory Reinnervation (TSR) camp.
And on April 29, Moses became the first person worldwide to undergo a transhumeral TSR procedure.
The surgical team reported immediate success as he began experiencing sensations in his phantom hand.
Says Dr. Wabwire, “By creating this neural hand map, we’re not just restoring sensation – we’re chabling better prosthetic control and pain management, fundamentally changing what’s possible for amputees through plastic and reconstructive surgery.”
As Dr. Wabwire reflects, “This isn’t just surgical innovation — it’s the restoration of dignity. function, and hope for people who thought such sensations were lost forever.”
Director Surgical Services, Dr. Kennedy Ondede said the milestone emphasizes the hospital’s commitment to advancing surgical care in the country.
“This achievement demonstrates that world-class innovations can and do happen in Kenya.”
Similar sentiments were raised by the Head of Specialized Surgeries Dr. Joel Lessan who said: “This TSR surgical camp is just the beginning. We are proud to be setting a new global benchmark in patient-centered gurgical care.”
Kenyatta National Hospital Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Evanson N. Kamuri, hailed the medical team for successfully performing the world’s first transhumeral TSR surgery.
*This achievement reaffins our commitment to strategic partnerships and demonstrates that at KNH, we are home to world-class medical professionals and cutting-edge technology.” he concluded.
“Feeling my missing hand again after believing it was gone forever — that’s not just medicine, that’s magic.”
His story, and those of his fellow camp participants, embodies KNH’s vision of pushing medical boundanes to redetime human possibility.
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