A stitch in time saves accident victim’s arm

Keshavpuram resident Nikita Chaudhary, 21, was of one of the lucky three to have survived the midnight car crash that killed a B Tech graduate on Sunday. But had it not been for an alert policeman, she would have lost her left arm for life.

Keshavpuram resident Nikita Chaudhary, 21, was of one of the lucky three to have survived the midnight car crash that killed a B Tech graduate on Sunday. But had it not been for an alert policeman, she would have lost her left arm for life.

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Wrapped in a newspaper, the police brought the theatre artist's amputated arm to the Lok Nayak hospital within an hour of the accident. In a marathon surgery that lasted for over 14 hours, surgeons at the hospital stitched back her arm and are trying to bring it back to life completely.

"We were sure that her left arm was gone as it was completely torn off. But doctors here have put it back and we are hopeful that it will be back to normal," said Meenu Choudhary, Nikita's mother.

A nine-member team of doctors, led by Dr PS Bhandari conducted the surgery. "We first stabilised and sanitized the arm. Then two orthopedics joined the bones. Thereafter arteries and veins were restored to start blood flow," said Dr Bhandari. "She is extremely lucky that the limb has survived. But only time will decide, how much strength and movement she will be able to gain in the arm," he added.

Doctors were all praise for the police which not only brought Nikita to the hospital in time but also carefully preserved her severed arm in a polythene bag.

"Not only they brought her to the hospital fast but also preserved the limb properly," said Dr Bhandari.