The fact is that the nerves, tendons and bones of the patient's forearm were severely damaged. In such cases, there is a risk that the hand will not take root. Also, due to severe damage, it was simply impossible to re-implant the amputated body part.
The doctors decided to place their hand on the patient's left ankle, ensuring the flow of blood from the arteries of the lower limb. The practice of temporarily attaching an amputated limb to another part of the body is not new, but until now, in such cases, it was customary to use the armpit. These operations last from 8 to 15 hours and require a lot of experience and special skill from surgeons.