Mumbai Surgeons Save Fisherman’s Hand After Rare Eel Fish Bite Injury at Uttan Seashore
Mumbai: A 42-year-old fisherman from Uttan, Sandip Bhoir (name changed), had a miraculous escape after doctors at Wockhardt Hospitals, Mira Road, saved his hand from amputation following a rare and severe eel fish bite.
Sandip, who has spent decades fishing off the rocky shores of Uttan Beach in Bhayander, was bitten by an eel fish while handling his catch. The fish slipped from his grip and bit him twice on his left wrist, causing deep cuts and heavy bleeding. Fellow fishermen tried to control the bleeding with a tight pressure bandage before bringing him to the hospital — nearly 17 hours after the incident.
By the time he reached the Emergency Department at Wockhardt Hospitals, Mira Road, Sandip’s hand and forearm were grossly swollen, pale, and without blood circulation or sensation. He could not move his fingers, and even passive movement caused excruciating pain.
After detailed examination, doctors diagnosed him with acute compartment syndrome, a limb-threatening condition where swelling cuts off blood flow to the muscles and nerves.
He was immediately rushed to the operation theatre for emergency surgery by Dr. Sushil Nehete, Plastic, Hand and Reconstructive Microsurgeon, with Dr. Priti Dixit, Anesthetist, managing the anesthesia during this complex and high-risk procedure at Wockhardt Hospitals, Mira Road.
Dr. Sushil Nehete, Plastic, Hand and Reconstructive Microsurgeon at Wockhardt Hospitals, Mira Road, said: “When the patient arrived, his hand had lost circulation completely. Any further delay could have led to irreversible muscle damage and possible amputation. At Wockhardt Hospitals, Mira Road, we performed an emergency fasciotomy — releasing the pressure in the forearm compartments and the carpal tunnel — which restored blood flow instantly. Within a few days, he started regaining sensation and movement.”
Dr. Sushil Nehete further added, immediately after surgery, as blood flow was restored to the muscles, metabolic waste products entered the bloodstream, posing a serious risk of kidney failure — a known complication after revascularizing ischemic limbs. Thanks to the timely surgery and expert management by the ICU team at Wockhardt Hospitals, the patient was closely monitored, and his kidneys were protected from damage.
Dr. Priti Dixit, Anesthetist at Wockhardt Hospitals, Mira Road, played a critical role in ensuring the patient’s stability throughout the surgery.
Following surgery, Sandip’s recovery has been remarkable. His hand circulation returned immediately post-operation, and over the next few weeks, sensation and movement improved significantly. He is currently undergoing wound care, will soon require skin grafting, and is on a physiotherapy program to regain full hand function.
Dr. Nehete added, “Timely surgical intervention at Wockhardt Hospitals, Mira Road, was crucial. We’re pleased that his hand has been saved and he is expected to recover completely in a few months.”
Wockhardt Hospitals Ltd. is a chain of tertiary care super-specialty hospitals with facilities in Nagpur, Rajkot, South Mumbai, and North Mumbai. Known for its state-of-the-art infrastructure and globally benchmarked processes, Wockhardt Hospitals prioritizes patient safety and quality of care. The guiding philosophy is to serve and enrich the Quality of Life of patients, making it one of the few professionally managed corporate hospital groups in the country.
