Abstract
Major self-mutilations include injury to limbs, eyes, or genitals due to various psychiatric
illnesses. Limb amputations are grievous injuries that radically decrease the quality
of life. Controversy exists as to the advisability of replantation of the self-amputated
limb. We report a case of self-amputation of the hand in a 54-year-old gentleman in
a fit of psychosis. He underwent replantation of the hand and was given timely psychiatric
help. Interdisciplinary management helped in improving the mood of the patient and
he cooperated well with the rehabilitation schedule. Recent literature encourages
surgeons to replant the limb and treat the mental illness with close observation for
warning signs. We conclude that replantation along with early initiation of psychiatry
treatment can help the patient overcome psychosis, realize the implications of his
actions, and provide the motivation to perform physiotherapy to achieve the optimum
outcome possible in the replanted hand.
Keywords
major self-mutilation - replantation - psychiatry
