KNH Achieves World’s First Transhumeral Targeted Sensory Reinnervation (TSR) Surgery and Launches Africa’s Pioneering TSR Camp
Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH) has cemented its position as a global leader in medical innovation by successfully performing the world’s first Transhumeral Targeted Sensory Reinnervation (TSR) surgery on Mr. Moses Mwendwa, a 22-year-old software engineering student.
The surgery that lasted more than seven hours, led by a multidisciplinary team of surgeons, enabled Moses to feel sensation at the stump of his missing left hand for the first time since amputation.
Amputation leads to an imaginary feeling and perception of the presence of an amputated part (phantom limb) which is often associated with pain, discomfort and psychological torture.
TSR, an advanced surgical technique, reroutes nerves from an amputated limb to the remaining skin, creating a “sensory map” that allows the brain to perceive touch, temperature, and pain as if originating from the missing limb.
Moses’ life changed dramatically on January 12, 2025, when a fall led to compartment syndrome, a life-threatening condition that forced doctors to amputate his left arm above the elbow.
However, after months of physical and emotional recovery, he was offered a chance to participate in KNH’s historic TSR Surgical Camp, which took place between April 28 and May 2, 2025.
Following a successful operation that was undertaken on April 29, 2025, Moses became the first person in the world to undergo the procedure that not only restored sensation but also promised better prosthetic control and pain management.
The success of this milestone was made possible by a world-class team, including Prof. Ferdinand Nang’ole (Consultant Plastic Surgeon, KNH/UoN), Dr. Benjamin Wabwire (Head of Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery, KNH) and Prof. Alexander Gardetto (Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery Specialist, Italy). They were supported by Dr. Dorsi Jowi, consultant plastic surgeon at KNH; Dr. Christine Nyabuto, chief resident in plastic surgery at UON; and Dr. Rachel Machiya, a resident orthopaedic surgeon also from UON.
Essential support was provided by the anaesthesia team led by Dr. John Mwanzia and Dr. Ruth Nyambura. The nursing team was headed by Mr. Erick Odongo, assisted by Ms. Mercy Chepkemoi and Ms. Esther Munga. In addition, Ms. Catherine Muthengi played a key role as the theatre sterile assistant.
“This achievement is not just a medical breakthrough—it’s a restoration of dignity, function, and hope,” said Dr. Wabwire.
Moses’ journey to this historic moment began tragically on January 12, 2025, when a fall on the stairs after a church service in Nairobi’s Ziwani area caused catastrophic damage to his dominant left hand.
Initially brushing off the incident, Moses’ condition worsened three days later, with excruciating pain and alarming discolouration setting in.
After inconclusive diagnoses at two facilities, his desperate mother rushed him to Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH) on January 18, where doctors identified life-threatening compartment syndrome — a condition in which rising internal pressure cuts off blood flow.
Emergency surgeries followed: a six-hour debridement on January 19 and, ultimately, a 2.5-hour amputation on January 24.
The procedures saved Moses’ life but cost him his arm. The psychological toll was immense. Waking disoriented to find his limb gone, Moses and his mother endured weeks of grief before beginning rehabilitation.
A turning point came during a clinical review on March 14, when doctors invited him to join KNH’s pioneering Targeted Sensory Reinnervation (TSR) camp.
And on April 29, Moses became the first person worldwide to undergo a transhumeral TSR procedure. The surgical team reported immediate success as he began experiencing sensations in his phantom hand.
Says Dr. Wabwire, “By creating this neural hand map, we’re not just restoring sensation — we’re enabling better prosthetic control and pain management, fundamentally changing what’s possible for amputees through plastic and reconstructive surgery.”
Beyond Moses’ restoration, the TSR camp represents a watershed moment for African medicine. Seven beneficiaries now stand at the forefront of a new era in neural rehabilitation, with KNH planning to institutionalize these camps to support countless amputees across the continent.
As Dr. Wabwire reflects, “This isn’t just surgical innovation — it’s the restoration of dignity, function, and hope for people who thought such sensations were lost forever.”
Director Surgical Services, Dr. Kennedy Ondede said the milestone emphasizes the hospital’s commitment to advancing surgical care in the country. “This achievement demonstrates that world-class innovations can and do happen in Kenya.”
Similar sentiments were raised by the Head of Specialized Surgeries Dr. Joel Lessan who said: “This TSR surgical camp is just the beginning. We are proud to be setting a new global benchmark in patient-centered surgical care.”
Kenyatta National Hospital Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Evanson N. Kamuri, CBS, EBS, hailed the medical team for successfully performing the world’s first transhumeral TSR surgery.
“This achievement reaffirms our commitment to strategic partnerships and demonstrates that at KNH, we are home to world-class medical professionals and cutting-edge technology,” he concluded.
In Moses’ words: “Feeling my missing hand again after believing it was gone forever — that’s not just medicine, that’s magic.”
His story, and those of his fellow camp participants, embodies KNH’s vision of pushing medical boundaries to redefine human possibility.
