Chinese doctors report world-first successful replantation of both legs severed at the thighs

A 51-year-old man in eastern China has regained the ability to stand and walk with a walker after doctors successfully reattached both of his legs following a devastating industrial accident.

According to the Yangtze Evening Post, the patient, identified by his surname Jiang, suffered complete severing of both legs at the thigh level in a machinery accident at a factory in Jiangsu Province on December 2, 2024.

A multidisciplinary team at Suzhou Ruihua Orthopedic Hospital performed an emergency operation that lasted nearly eight hours. Doctors reconnected the major blood vessels, bones, nerves and other tissues in an attempt to restore the function of both limbs.

The hospital says the procedure represents the world's first documented case of successful replantation after both thighs were completely severed simultaneously. The case was assessed by the Jiangsu Institute of Medical Information.

Jiang's recovery has progressed steadily. After months of treatment and rehabilitation, he can now walk indoors with a walker and perform most everyday activities without assistance. Sensation has returned to his lower legs, reaching the area above his ankles.

His rehabilitation began with relatively small milestones. In March 2025, after the external fixators were removed, Jiang was already able to lift both legs while lying in bed. He was discharged from the hospital on March 5 with the goal of eventually regaining the ability to stand and walk.

More than a year later, he has progressed from being bedridden to standing and taking steps with support.

The recovery has also involved serious complications. Jiang developed areas of skin necrosis following the initial surgery and required flap reconstruction. He subsequently underwent bone grafting and additional internal fixation after severe open comminuted fractures of both femurs failed to heal properly.

Doctors say his legs are now approximately equal in length and that his overall condition is good. However, he continues to require rehabilitation, and it remains unclear when he will be able to walk without a walker.

According to trauma orthopedic specialist Li Changsong, further recovery will depend on improvements in muscle strength, nerve function and bone healing. Nevertheless, doctors believe Jiang's mobility may continue to improve.

The medical team said the unusual nature of the case was not simply the successful replantation of severed limbs, but the fact that both lower limbs had been completely amputated at the thigh level at the same time — an exceptionally rare and technically challenging injury.

The hospital's previous experience with limb replantation, combined with expertise in fracture fixation, vascular reconstruction and nerve repair, helped provide the technical foundation for the complex procedure.

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