A Second Chance to Walk
A 51-year-old patient who suffered complete amputation of both thighs following a machinery accident was able to walk with a walker nearly 20 months after surgery.
In August 2026, Suzhou Ruihua Orthopaedic Hospital shared the remarkable replantation of a 51-year-old patient who had suffered the complete traumatic amputation of both thighs in a machinery accident.
Following an extraordinarily complex replantation procedure and nearly 20 months of treatment and rehabilitation, the patient was able to stand and walk indoors with the aid of a walker.
According to a novelty search conducted by the Jiangsu Institute of Medical Information, this was the first publicly reported case of replantation following the simultaneous complete amputation of both thighs.
Behind this achievement was not a single defining moment, but an extended continuum of emergency response, multidisciplinary surgery, postoperative care and rehabilitation—guided throughout by the determination to preserve life, limbs and the possibility of mobility.
Reconstructing What Had Been Completely Severed
Following a machinery accident, both of the patient’s thighs had been completely severed from the body—one of the most severe and clinically challenging forms of limb trauma.
Suzhou Ruihua Orthopaedic Hospital rapidly assembled a multidisciplinary team across trauma orthopaedics, joint surgery, hand surgery, wound reconstruction and other disciplines.
During an operation lasting nearly eight hours, the team performed a series of highly demanding procedures, including debridement, bone shortening and fixation, vascular anastomosis, nerve repair, and muscle and soft-tissue reconstruction.
Blood flow was successfully restored to both replanted limbs. Yet this was only the first step.
The patient subsequently experienced inflammation, localized skin necrosis and delayed healing of fractures in both femurs. With sustained clinical care and structured rehabilitation, he gradually progressed from bed rest to standing and ultimately to walking with a walker nearly 20 months after the accident.
Imaging When Every Decision Matters
In orthopaedic surgery, medical imaging provides clinicians with the visual information needed to make informed decisions at critical moments.
Clear imaging, responsive operation and flexible positioning are especially important in demanding procedures where multiple surgical teams must work efficiently around the patient and where each adjustment requires timely visual confirmation.
SONTU provides multiple imaging solutions to Suzhou Ruihua Orthopaedic Hospital and its healthcare group, including:
– Mobile C-arm System
– Ceiling-mounted DR System
– Fluoroscopy DR systems
Designed around real clinical workflows, these systems support the hospital’s routine diagnostic imaging, orthopaedic procedures and multidisciplinary care with consistent image quality and dependable performance.
SONTU is committed to providing healthcare professionals with reliable medical imaging solutions that meet their clinical needs.
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At SONTU, we believe dependable medical imaging earns its value in the moments when clinicians need clarity, confidence and consistency most.
Guided by our mission—“Advancing the quality of care with continuous innovations. Empowering the global healthcare system with high quality imaging.”—we continue to advance independently developed medical imaging technologies shaped by real clinical needs.
Today, SONTU imaging solutions serve more than 8,000 healthcare institutions across over 70 countries. Looking ahead, we will continue working alongside healthcare professionals worldwide, contributing reliable imaging technology to better clinical decisions and better possibilities for patients.
Sources: Suzhou Ruihua Orthopaedic Hospital; Xinhua News Agency; Jiangsu media reports.