Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH) has made a major medical breakthrough after performing two pioneering nerve reconstruction surgeries, including one on the world’s youngest known recipient of Targeted Sensory Reinnervation (TSR).
The second procedure involved a 43-year-old man who became the third patient globally to undergo the transhumeral variant of the specialised surgery.
The operations, conducted on October 29 and 30, 2026, involved a four-year-old boy and a man who lost their limbs in separate traumatic accidents.
The procedures mark a significant milestone in Kenya’s microsurgery and reconstructive care, expanding the range of specialised treatment available locally to patients who have undergone amputations.
TSR is a specialised surgical procedure that redirects sensory nerves to create the potential for amputees to experience sensations such as pressure, vibration, heat and cold through appropriately integrated prosthetic limbs.
Its transhumeral variant is designed for patients with above-elbow amputations. The procedure may also help manage complications associated with limb loss, including painful neuromas and phantom limb sensations.
Neuromas are painful nerve growths that can develop after amputation, while phantom limb sensations involve feelings of pain, tingling or movement in a limb that is no longer present.
In a statement on Tuesday, KNH said the first operation involved Jeremy, a four-year-old boy from Kirinyaga County who lost his left hand in a chaff-cutter accident while playing with another child.
An attempt to reattach the hand was unsuccessful, leading to its amputation. Jeremy was subsequently identified as a suitable candidate for TSR.
The five-and-a-half-hour operation was performed on October 29 by Italian Consultant Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeon Prof. Alexander Gardetto, assisted by KNH Consultant Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeon Dr Christine Nyabuto.
The procedure was overseen by Dr Benjamin Wabwire, Head of Specialised Surgery, and supported by Dr Paul Owiti, Dr Magdalene Busang and Dr Peris Njenga.
The nursing team was led by Ms Bilha Wanjiru and Mr Omondi, while the anaesthesia team was led by Dr Gideon Kimutai.
The second operation involved Charles Mogire, a 43-year-old painter from Ngong’, who lost his left arm at the shoulder and his dominant right arm above the elbow following a severe electrical accident in November 2025.
After receiving emergency treatment, skin grafting and follow-up care at KNH, Mogire underwent the five-hour transhumeral TSR procedure on October 30.
The hospital said the operation was shorter than the first procedure of its kind performed globally, which lasted slightly more than seven hours.
The surgery was conducted by Prof. Gardetto, assisted by Dr Nyabuto, Dr Mercy Kamadi and Dr Lenah Kerubo, under the supervision of Prof. Ferdinand Nang’ole.
The nursing team was led by Mr Joshua and Mr Kiprop, while the anaesthesia team comprised Dr Wilson Ng’ang’a and Dr Winnie Kerubo.
KNH said both procedures were fully covered by the Social Health Authority (SHA), allowing the patients to access the specialised treatment without incurring out-of-pocket expenses.
Following the operations, the patients received post-operative care and clinical monitoring under the supervision of Prof. Ferdinand Nang’ole of KNH and the University of Nairobi.
Both have since been discharged and are recuperating at home, with continued clinical follow-up and rehabilitation.
Dr Wabwire described the procedures as a significant milestone in microsurgery, noting that redirecting sensory nerves was opening new possibilities for people living with limb loss.
KNH Director of Clinical Services Dr Joel Lessan said the achievement demonstrated the importance of multidisciplinary teamwork, international collaboration and investment in medical innovation.
The hospital’s Chief Executive Officer, Dr Richard Lesiyampe, said the milestone reaffirmed KNH’s position as a leading referral and teaching institution capable of delivering complex, specialised medical procedures locally.
“These procedures demonstrate that complex and highly specialized treatments can be successfully undertaken in Kenya. Through investment in specialist skills, infrastructure, technology, research and strategic partnerships, KNH continues to expand access to innovative healthcare while restoring hope, dignity and quality of life,” said Dr Lesiyampe.
The initiative is in its second year at KNH and continues to benefit from Prof. Gardetto’s mentorship and knowledge transfer, strengthening local expertise in the specialised field.
For the two families, the procedures have brought renewed hope following the life-changing accidents.
Jeremy’s mother, Ms Mercy Muthoni, expressed gratitude to KNH for the specialised care and support extended to her son.
Mogire and his wife, Ms Beatrice Moraa, described the surgery as a turning point for their family.
The 43-year-old painter is hopeful that, with appropriate prosthetic support, he will regain sensation, achieve greater independence and eventually return to painting.
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