The 51-year-old man, identified only by his surname, Jiang, lost both legs on Dec. 2, 2024, when they were severed by a factory machine.
Doctors at Suzhou Ruihua Orthopedic Hospital, about 100 km west of Shanghai, performed a grueling eight-hour overnight operation to reconnect Jiang’s severed legs to his thighs, according to The Yangtse Evening Post.
Following nearly 20 months of intensive rehabilitation, Jiang can now walk with a supportive frame and carry out most daily activities independently. Doctors also reported that sensation has been restored down to his ankles.
The Jiangsu Trauma and Treatment Association, a local hospital network, described the double-thigh replantation as the world’s first successful procedure of its kind.
In an Aug. 14 social media post, the association noted that while single-thigh replantations had been achieved previously, there were no documented cases of both thighs being completely reattached with the patient subsequently regaining the ability to walk, according to the South China Morning Post.
