---
title: "Chinese surgeons achieve the impossible: for the first time in history, they reattach both severed legs to a patient"
description: "Chinese surgeons have successfully reattached both legs severed at the thigh level to a patient for the first time in the world. The 51-year-old man is already moving with a walker after an eight-hour operation, and limb sensitivity has been restored."
date: 2026-08-18T23:20:44.000Z
lang: en
url: https://xab.info/en/posts/in-china-surgeons-reattach-both-severed-legs-for-the-first-time
tags: [china, medicine, surgery, replantation, health]
publisher: "XAB.info"
---

# Chinese surgeons achieve the impossible: for the first time in history, they reattach both severed legs to a patient

![Surgical gloves passing a clamp in an operating room — symbol of the unprecedented leg reattachment surgery performed in China](https://xab.info/media/2026/08/19/v-kitae-vpervye-prishili-pacientu-obie-otorvannye-nogi/v-kitae-vpervye-prishili-pacientu-obie-otorvannye-nogi-1.webp)

## 🎯 Key Points

- For the first time in the world, an operation to reattach both legs severed at the thigh level was successfully performed in China.
- The operation lasted 8 hours; the patient is already moving with a walker.
- This event became an important achievement in the field of traumatology in 2026.

A precedent has been set in medical practice: Chinese surgeons have successfully performed an operation to reattach both legs of a patient, which were completely severed due to an industrial injury. This unique surgical intervention was made possible thanks to the work of specialists at the Jiuksua Orthopedic Hospital, located in eastern China. The operation, which lasted more than eight hours, saved the life and restored the function of the limbs of a 51-year-old man who became a victim of a serious accident at the end of 2024.

### Details of the unique operation and the history of the injury

The patient, a 51-year-old man, met with misfortune while working at a factory. At the end of 2024, an accident occurred as a result of which both of his legs were completely amputated at the thigh level. The injury was so severe that the chances of recovery were extremely low. However, the doctors at Jiuksua Hospital did not refuse this extremely difficult task. During an eight-hour operation, specialists were able to reattach both limbs, restoring blood supply and nerve conductivity. According to medical staff, this is the first case in world practice of the successful simultaneous replantation (reattachment) of both legs severed at the level of the hip joints.

### Doctors' forecasts and the patient's current condition

According to a report by Li Changsungning, head of the trauma department, the patient's condition has improved significantly. Already now, the man is able to move independently at home with the help of a walker. Doctors note the restoration of sensitivity in the legs above the ankle level, which is a critically important indicator of the success of the operation. Despite the impressive results, the rehabilitation process will be long. Medical staff predict that in one to two years, the patient will be able to completely give up crutches and walkers, returning to a full life.

### Context of China's medical achievements in 2026

This case is not an isolated success of Chinese medicine in the current year. In June 2026, another historic event was recorded in the country: for the first time in the world, a patient diagnosed with brain death was transplanted with a pig's liver and kidneys. Although the transplanted organs functioned in the body for only five days, and the study was terminated at the family's request, this experiment became an important step in the study of xenotransplantation. The successful leg reattachment operation confirms the rapid development of traumatology and reconstructive surgery in China, opening new horizons for the treatment of severe injuries.

### Significance for global traumatology

Specialists recognize that this case is a breakthrough in the field of reconstructive surgery. The ability to restore the integrity of the body after the loss of both legs at a high level changes the standards of care for such injuries. The operation requires the highest precision, coordination of the surgical team's actions, and the use of advanced technologies. The success of Chinese colleagues gives hope to patients around the world who have suffered similar injuries and stimulates further research in the field of regenerative medicine.

## 🔍 Fact-Check Verification

- [For the first time in China, a patient's severed legs were reattached – Zamin.uz, 18.08.2026](https://zamin.uz/ru/mir/218388-v-kitae-vpervye-povtorno-prishili-patsientu-otorvannye-nogi.html) - Источник подтверждает факт операции в больнице Джуйксуа, имя заведующего и текущее состояние пациента.

## ❓ FAQ

### Q: Where was the operation performed?
**A:** The operation took place at the Jiuksua Orthopedic Hospital in eastern China.

### Q: How long did the operation last?
**A:** The surgical intervention lasted about eight hours.

### Q: Can the patient walk?
**A:** Yes, the patient is already able to move with the help of a walker, and leg sensitivity has been restored.