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Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH), Kenya’s biggest referral hospital, Tuesday May 6, announced the successful completion of the world’s first Transhumeral Targeted Sensory Reinnervation (TSR) surgery, performed on a 22-year-old Kenyan patient, a breakthrough that restores the sense of touch in an amputated limb.
The pioneering seven-hour surgery, conducted at Africa’s first-ever TSR Camp hosted by KNH, was performed on Moses Mwendwa, who lost his left arm in January 2025 due to compartment syndrome; a severe condition that arose following a fall on the stairs.
According to the official KNH statement shared via X on May 6, the surgical team led by Professor Stanley Nang’ole and Dr. Wanjala Wabwire achieved what no other team globally has done: rerouting nerves from the upper arm to targeted areas to form a “sensory map.” This allows the brain to interpret signals from the missing limb, effectively enabling the patient to “feel” with a prosthetic hand.
“Feeling my hand again is magic,” Moses said.
The surgery restored sensation and enhanced prosthetic integration, allowing patients to experience a more natural interaction with artificial limbs; a game-changing advancement in rehabilitative medicine.
KNH’s achievement places Kenya on the global medical innovation map and also signals a broader shift in Africa’s position in the field of complex surgeries and neurological prosthetics. Medical experts are hailing the development as a “global milestone” and a symbol of what locally driven research, investment in surgical training, and commitment to public health can achieve.
TSR surgery has been an area of experimental focus primarily in research labs in the United States and Europe, but KNH’s accomplishment marks the first clinically successful human application of TSR at the transhumeral (above-elbow) level, a far more complex procedure than traditional nerve transfers due to the limited residual limb anatomy and nerve density.
Prof. Nang’ole, a consultant plastic and reconstructive surgeon, noted that the surgery’s success is a result of years of groundwork, interdisciplinary collaboration, and a strong belief that “Africa can lead in medicine, not just catch up.” Dr. Wabwire, one of the region’s leading neurologically focused surgeons, added that this success “opens doors for further innovation in neural rehabilitation and personalized prosthetic solutions.”
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