NAIROBI, Kenya – May 6, 2025:
The Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH) has achieved a global medical milestone by performing the world’s first Transhumeral Targeted Sensory Reinnervation (TSR) surgery, a groundbreaking procedure that restores sensation to the stump of an amputated arm.
The pioneering operation was performed on Moses Mwendwa, a 22-year-old software engineering student, who lost his dominant left arm earlier this year due to a severe medical emergency. The historic surgery took place on April 29, 2025, lasting an intense seven hours.
TSR is a form of advanced plastic surgery that involves rerouting severed nerves from an amputated limb to the remaining skin. This reconfiguration allows the brain to interpret sensations like touch, pain, and temperature as though they are originating from the missing limb — essentially giving the amputee a new form of sensory connection to their lost arm.
“For the first time since losing my hand, I can feel it again. That’s not just medicine—it’s magic,” said a visibly emotional Mwendwa following the surgery.
Leading the procedure was a multinational team of surgeons during Africa’s first TSR Surgical Camp, hosted at KNH to promote innovation in post-amputation care. The operation was spearheaded by Prof. Ferdinand Nang’ole, Dr. Benjamin Wabwire (KNH’s Head of Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery), and visiting Italian surgeon Prof. Alexander Gardetto.
They were supported by a dedicated team of professionals:
- Surgeons: Dr. Dorsi Jowi, Dr. Christine Nyabuto, Dr. Rachel Machiya
- Anaesthetists: Dr. John Mwanzia, Dr. Ruth Nyambura
- Surgical Nursing Team: Led by Mr. Erick Odongo, with Ms. Mercy Chepkemoi, Ms. Esther Munga, and Ms. Catherine Muthengi
KNH Chief Executive Officer Dr. Evanson Kamuri praised the achievement, describing it as proof of Kenya’s growing medical leadership and commitment to innovation.
“This reaffirms our commitment to strategic partnerships and demonstrates that KNH is home to world-class professionals and cutting-edge technology,” said Dr. Kamuri.
Dr. Wabwire emphasized the profound human impact of the breakthrough:
“This achievement is not just a medical breakthrough—it’s a restoration of dignity, function, and hope. By creating this neural hand map, we’re changing what’s possible for amputees.”
The Story Behind the Surgery
Mwendwa’s journey began in January 2025, when he collapsed after a church service in Nairobi’s Ziwani area. He was diagnosed with compartment syndrome, a life-threatening condition where excessive pressure builds up within muscles, cutting off blood flow and risking permanent damage.
After inconclusive diagnoses at two medical facilities, he was rushed to KNH. There, emergency surgeries were performed, but doctors ultimately had to amputate his dominant arm on January 24 to save his life. The ordeal left Mwendwa and his family devastated, as they faced weeks of grief and psychological adjustment.
Now, just months later, he is the first person in the world to undergo and benefit from the transhumeral TSR surgery — a procedure that not only offers renewed hope for functional restoration but also stands to transform global approaches to post-amputation care.
Global Significance
The successful surgery represents a massive leap forward for both Kenyan healthcare and amputee rehabilitation worldwide. Previously, TSR procedures had only been performed on lower limb or more distal upper limb amputations. This is the first time the technique has been applied at the transhumeral (above-elbow) level, establishing KNH as a pioneer in nerve reinnervation surgery.
KNH plans to continue its collaboration with international experts to expand access to this innovative treatment, potentially making it a standard of care for amputees in Kenya and across Africa.
