Surgery for boy, 1, who got fingers stuck in drain

Dubai: An 18-month-old boy whose fingers got stuck in a bathtub drain in Dubai on December 7 had to undergo an hour-and-a-half surgery to save his hand, his mother said.

Candee Yong, a Malaysian expat, told XPRESS her husband was giving their son Damian Kohjihao a wash in a bathtub in their Al Sofouh villa when the toddler inserted the wet fingers of his left hand in the drain. “It happened in a split second. Damain’s index and ring fingers got stuck and they just wouldn’t come out. We had to unscrew the drain and rush him to hospital with his fingers stuck in it.”

Yong said Damain was bleeding profusely when they arrived at the Mediclinic City Hospital’s Emergency Room where doctors referred him for surgery.

Dr Yasser Khattab, specialist plastic surgeon, said it took him 45 minutes to cut the steel drain. “I tried three bone cutters but in vain. I finally used a surgical saw to cut the drain bit by bit and release Damain’s fingers.”

He said Damain’s blood circulation had to be restored. He was given IV fluids and antibiotics. “I found his index finger had a deep cut down to the tendon. His ring finger was also affected. They had to be repaired. The surgery was done under general anaesthesia and I was fighting against time. His fingers could not have been saved had he come in later.”