Landmark Shoulder-Level Transplant at KEM Hospital Restores Hope

In a groundbreaking achievement, the Departments of Plastic Surgery and Orthopaedic Surgery at KEM Hospital (Parel, Mumbai) performed a successful shoulder-level transplant of the right upper limb on the night of 26th April 2025.
The recipient, a 22-year-old man, had lost his entire arm over two years ago. The donor, a 40-year-old businessman declared brain dead on Saturday, had his right upper limb and one kidney donated to KEM Hospital by his generous family.
Dr. Sangeeta Ravat, Dean, KEM Hospital, provided crucial support by facilitating the Green Corridor for swift transport and ensuring administrative clearance for the complex procedure.
The surgery was led by Dr. Vinita Puri, Professor and Head, Department of Plastic Surgery, with Plastic Surgeons Dr. Venkateshwaran N., Dr. Nilesh Shende, Dr. Chandrashekhar Chalwade, Dr. Raghav Mago, Orthopaedic Surgeons Dr. Prashant Kamble and Dr. Rohit Somani and team, the Anaesthesia team headed by Dr. Sweta Salgaonkar, and the Nephrology team led by Dr. Tukaram Jamale, supported by other faculty and residents.
Twenty-four hours post-surgery, the patient is stable, with a warm and well-vascularized limb, and is under observation in the Transplant ICU.
Our heartfelt gratitude to the donor’s family for their life-changing gift.