🗡️ A Shocking Assault Turns into a Complex Case
Namaste! I’m Dr. Anupam Khandelwal, Orthopedic and Trauma Surgeon based in Indore. Today I’d like to share an unusual and eye-opening case – a man injured during an assault involving a sword, which led to a cut injury over the forearm and a superficial radial nerve injury.
The patient, a 35-year-old man from a village near Ujjain, was brought to our hospital after being attacked during a family dispute. The injury initially seemed like a deep cut on the outer part of the forearm, but what lay beneath was far more serious.
🧠 Understanding the Superficial Radial Nerve
Before we dive into the treatment, let’s break it down in simple terms:
The radial nerve is a major nerve that runs down your arm. Near the wrist, it divides into two parts:
- Deep branch – helps in movement
- Superficial branch – helps you feel sensations on the back of your hand, especially around the thumb and index finger
When this superficial branch is cut, the hand might look okay, but the patient feels:
- Numbness or tingling
- Burning pain
- Loss of touch sensation
🚑 Case Presentation – What Happened?
When the patient arrived:
- There was a clean but deep cut over the outer forearm
- He complained of numbness over the back of the thumb
- There was no major bleeding or bone fracture
🔍 Our clinical examination showed signs of radial nerve damage. To confirm, we used a nerve conduction test, and immediately planned for surgery.
🧵 Surgery – Precision at a Microscopic Level
The next day, we performed microsurgical nerve repair under anesthesia at our Indore hospital. Under a microscope:
- We found the superficial radial nerve was cleanly cut
- We aligned the nerve ends carefully using fine sutures – thinner than a hair!
- The forearm was then immobilized in a splint
Thanks to timely referral and precision care, we were able to repair it before scar tissue formed.
🌟 Real Testimonial from the Patient (Translated from Hindi)
Mr. R***** S**, from Ujjain district:
“जब चोट लगी थी, लग रहा था बस एक गहरा कट है। पर जब डॉ. अनुपम ने कहा कि नस कट गई है, तो होश उड़ गया। अनहोन ऑपरेशन किया, अब धीरे-धीरे हाथ का सेंसेशन वापस आ रहा है। बहुत शुक्रिया सर!”
📈 Post-Surgery Recovery and Follow-up
Recovery in such nerve injuries takes time. We monitored him with:
- Weekly dressings and physiotherapy guidance
- Sensory recovery assessment every 2 weeks
- Follow-up OPD conducted near Ratlam to avoid long travel
After 3 months, his sensation was 80% restored, and the scar healed beautifully. He regained full hand use without any complications.
🧠 Dr. Khandelwal’s Insight – What We Learn from This Case
⚠️ Many people believe a cut that doesn’t bleed much isn’t dangerous. But even a knife or sword injury to the hand/forearm can sever delicate nerves.
💡 Key takeaways:
- If you feel numbness or tingling after a cut, seek orthopedic attention immediately
- Microsurgical repair must be done within days of the injury
- Hand nerves are small but extremely important for quality of life
📍 Caring for All of Madhya Pradesh
This case is not just about Indore. It’s about raising awareness across Madhya Pradesh – where patients often delay treatment due to distance or lack of awareness.
🩺 Dr. Anupam Khandelwal regularly sees patients from:
- Bhopal, Jabalpur, Guna, Khandwa, Khargone, Ujjain, Ratlam, and nearby districts
- Monthly OPDs at Ratlam, Ujjain & Khandwa
- Emergency trauma & surgery care in Indore
📢 Final Word – Don’t Ignore Nerve Injuries
Whether it’s a kitchen knife, glass cut, or sword attack (yes, it still happens!), don’t ignore signs like:
- Loss of sensation
- Tingling or burning
- Weakness or inability to move fingers
Even if the wound looks small, the damage inside could be serious.
📞 Need Help? Get in Touch!
Dr. Anupam Khandelwal – Super-specialist in nerve, trauma, and joint surgeries
📍 Based in Indore, serving all of Madhya Pradesh
🌐 Website: www.dranupamkhandelwal.com
📱 Call or WhatsApp for appointments: +91-8818814030