Kenyan hospital pioneers world’s first Transhumeral Sensory Reinnervation Surgery
Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH) achieved a historic milestone in medical innovation by performing the world’s first Transhumeral Targeted Sensory Reinnervation (TSR) surgery on 22-year-old student Moses Mwendwa. The seven-hour procedure, conducted on April 29, enabled Moses to regain sensation in the stump of his amputated left arm, marking a global first in restoring sensory function for above-elbow amputees.
Mwendwa suffered a fall in January. The accident led to compartment syndrome, a life-threatening condition. Doctors amputated his arm above the elbow. Following months of physical and emotional recovery, he was selected for KNH’s inaugural TSR Surgical Camp and eventually, the TSR surgery.
The advanced TSR technique reroutes nerves from the amputated limb to the remaining skin, creating a “sensory map” that allows the brain to perceive touch, temperature, and pain as if from the missing limb. This not only restores sensation but also enhances prosthetic control and reduces phantom limb pain, a common source of discomfort and psychological distress for amputees.
“Feeling my missing hand again after believing it was gone forever — that’s not just medicine, that’s magic,” said Mwendwa, reflecting on the life-changing surgery.
Professor Ferdinand Nang’ole, a consultant plastic surgeon at KNH and the University of Nairobi; Dr. Benjamin Wabwire, head of plastic and reconstructive surgery at KNH; and Professor Alexander Gardetto, a plastic and reconstructive surgery specialist from Italy, led the team that performed the TSR surgery. Dr. Rachel Machiya, a resident orthopedic surgeon at the University of Nairobi; Dr. Dorsi Jowi from KNH; and Christine Nyabuto from the University of Nairobi made up the rest of the team.
Dr. Wabwire described the achievement as “a medical breakthrough that restores dignity, function, and hope.”
“By creating this neural hand map, we’re changing what’s possible for amputees.”
Beyond Mwendwa’s restoration, the TSR camp marks a watershed moment for African medicine. Seven beneficiaries now stand at the forefront of a new era in neural rehabilitation. Kenyatta National Hospital plans to institutionalize these camps to support countless amputees across the continent. Dr. Kennedy Ondede, Director of Surgical Services, says this milestone underscores the hospital’s commitment to advancing surgical care in Kenya and beyond.
