Surgeons at Suzhou Ruihua Orthopedic Hospital in eastern China have successfully reattached both severed thighs of a 51-year-old patient following a traumatic workplace accident, achieving what institutions confirm as a global medical first. The patient, identified in reports by the Yangtze Evening Post as a man surnamed Jiang, can now walk indoors using a walker and manage daily activities without assistance, according to a recent account detailed by the Global Times and NationPress.
The Procedure and Recovery Timeline
The injury occurred on December 2, 2024, when Jiang’s legs were completely severed at the thigh level in a machinery accident at a factory. A multidisciplinary team spanning trauma orthopedics and joint surgery departments at Suzhou Ruihua Orthopedic Hospital worked through the night for nearly eight hours to reattach both limbs. Li Changsong, head of a trauma orthopedics team at the hospital, told the Yangtze Evening Post that the medical staff had to simultaneously reconnect major blood vessels, nerves, and bone structures across both limbs.
The recovery process involved multiple setbacks and secondary procedures. Jiang developed localized skin necrosis post-operation, requiring flap reconstruction surgeries. Severe open comminuted fractures subsequently led to femoral nonunion, necessitating bone grafting and reinforced internal fixation of both femurs. By March 2025, shortly after external fixators were removed, Jiang was able to lift his legs freely while lying in bed, with sensation returning down to the middle of his lower legs before his initial discharge on March 5.
More than 20 months after the initial trauma, Jiang’s neurological and physical milestones have advanced further. Sensation has returned to his lower legs down to his ankles, a significant neurological milestone in limb replantation outcomes. According to a novelty assessment conducted by the Jiangsu Institute of Medical Information, confirmed by the Jiangsu Trauma and Treatment Association, the case stands as the first documented instance of complete bilateral thigh reattachment resulting in restored ambulation.
Institutional Significance and Academic Documentation
The procedure was formally documented in an academic paper published in the peer-reviewed China Journal of Trauma in July, providing institutional scientific credibility beyond individual hospital announcements. The Jiangsu Trauma and Treatment Association noted in an August 14 social media post that no prior documented case existed of a patient undergoing complete bilateral thigh reattachment and subsequently walking.
Medical institutions in Jiangsu and Shandong provinces have developed specialized trauma networks over the past two decades, building extensive experience in replanting single limbs and lower legs. According to Li, the hospital’s foundational expertise in fracture fixation, vascular anastomosis, and nerve repair enabled the team to undertake the bilateral procedure. The Jiangsu Trauma and Treatment Association stated that the outcome demonstrates China’s microsurgical trauma expertise has reached a world-leading level.
Current Status and Outlook
Jiang is currently in good overall condition, with his legs approximately equal in length, though his rehabilitation remains ongoing. Doctors have not established a definitive timetable for when he might stop using a walker entirely. “Recovery varies from person to person. We still need to monitor his muscle strength, nerve sensation and fracture healing,” Li told the Yangtze Evening Post, adding that Jiang is expected to gradually transition away from crutches toward independent walking.
