Kenyatta National Hospital pioneers world-first sensory restoration surgery

KENYA — Surgeons at Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH) have performed the world’s first transhumeral targeted sensory reinnervation (TSR) surgery, restoring the sensation of touch to an amputated limb.

The groundbreaking procedure was carried out on April 29, 2025, on Moses Mwendwa, a 22-year-old software engineering student whose left arm was amputated above the elbow earlier this year following a severe fall that led to compartment syndrome-a life-threatening condition caused by increased pressure within muscle compartments.

After his accident in January, Moses faced not only the physical loss of his dominant arm but also weeks of emotional turmoil and adjustment.

Initial treatments at two other facilities failed to resolve his condition, and only emergency intervention at KNH could save his life, though it ultimately required amputation.

For months, Moses grappled with the psychological toll of losing his limb, experiencing the so-called “phantom limb” phenomenon-where amputees feel pain or sensation in the missing limb.

Hope was rekindled when Moses was selected for Africa’s first TSR Surgical Camp, hosted by KNH from April 28 to May 2, 2025.

The camp culminated in his seven-hour surgery, led by a multidisciplinary team: Prof. Ferdinand Nang’ole (Consultant Plastic Surgeon, KNH/UoN), Dr. Benjamin Wabwire (Head of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, KNH), and Prof. Alexander Gardetto (Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery Specialist, Italy), with support from Dr. Dorsi Jowi, Dr. Christine Nyabuto, and Dr. Rachel Machiya.

TSR is an advanced nerve rerouting technique, whereby surgeons connect nerves from the amputated limb to healthy skin on the stump, creating a “sensory map.”

This allows the brain to interpret touch, temperature, and pain as if they are coming from the missing limb.

The result is not only restored sensation but also improved control over prosthetic devices and potential relief from phantom limb pain.

Describing his experience after the surgery, Moses said, “When I touched the skin near my stump and felt it in my fingers, I was stunned. It felt like a part of me had returned.”

His story is now a beacon of hope for amputees everywhere, demonstrating that advanced reconstructive surgery can restore both function and dignity.

“By creating this neural hand map, we’re not just restoring sensation-we’re enabling better prosthetic control and pain management, fundamentally changing what’s possible for amputees,” Dr. Wabwire emphasized.

KNH’s CEO, Dr. Evanson Kamuri, praised the team’s achievement, noting it reaffirms the hospital’s commitment to world-class innovation and care.

The TSR Surgical Camp benefited seven patients in total and marks a new era in neural rehabilitation for Africa.

KNH plans to institutionalize such camps, aiming to support many more amputees across the continent in the future.

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