James Byrne, Paver, Has Severed Thumb Replaced With Big Toe (VIDEO)

After accidentally severing his thumb while sawing through a piece of wood last December, James Byrne, 29, had surgeons attach his big toe in its place, The Guardian reported.

At first, Byrne wanted his thumb to be reattached, but after several attempts it proved unsuccessful.

Byrne told the publication that he didn't let the failure phase him. So, surgeon Umraz Khan at Frenchay Hospital in Bristol, England proposed another option.

"Mr Khan re-attached my thumb but it had been badly damaged and although we tried everything, including leeches, to get the blood flowing again it didn't take. Mr Khan said to me, 'You will have a thumb even if I have to take your toe.' I thought he was joking, but he was serious and nine months later here it is."

Byrne, who works as a paver and plant operator, couldn't accomplish day-to-day tasks without the use of his hand.

The BBC reported that, although the surgery was unexpected, Byrne isn't bothered by how it looks.

"The aesthetics of it don't bother me. I am just happy that it works. My work as a paver would have been destroyed without the use of my hand because I couldn't pick up a brick without a thumb but now I hope I can be back at work in a few months."

Bryne will now have to undergo physiotherapy to help him adapt to the new hand function as well as re-balancing without his big toe.

Comments

[rkeeeballs]

12:02 PM on 09/15/2011

that is ...thumb thing else!!..hope it work's out!...how's them flip flops working for you ?..oop's...my bad !...good luck....

[Carlene Sorrells]

09:39 AM on 09/15/2011

My twin sister had this exact surgery several years ago at Duke Hospital in North Carolina after a car wreck where her left thumb was traumatically amputated. She does just fine.

[Eric Shin]

09:25 AM on 09/15/2011

Huff Post you got me again. When I read toe replaces digit I thought it was like which part of the chicken is the nugget?

[orangekitty]

09:10 AM on 09/15/2011

I'm just trying to imagine the sensation of walking without a big toe.

[svsis]

06:56 AM on 09/15/2011

This is a testament to the National Health Service in the UK. In the US this paver would not have been able to afford such treatment.

[WHOGIVESADAMN pluh]

10:52 PM on 09/14/2011

I give this guy a huge TOE'S UP! :D

[teacherfor25]

07:45 PM on 09/14/2011

When I was in elementary school I babysat for a boy who had this same surgery because he was born without thumbs. It's amazing what can be done to improve the quality of life for people.

[Vivicca Whitsett]

07:12 PM on 09/14/2011

New word: Thumb-jam!

[lannetteramos]

08:48 PM on 09/15/2011

ewww, LOL!

[Melan]

07:08 PM on 09/14/2011

Well, good for him, and don't let anyone tell you it looks funny. Lots of people out there with Bradydachtyly type D have thumbs that look like big toes...it runs in my family....you're welcome to join the club! My sister has only one thumb like that, but my daughter got both of them. Texting is a bit difficult, as the thumbs are so wide..but she works around it. Hope you recover quickly!

[Tracy R Gibson]

06:45 PM on 09/14/2011

I have only 2 words. Toe fungus.

[Charles E Howard]

06:23 PM on 09/14/2011

Knew an Englishman thirty years ago that had this done.

[douttfire]

06:18 PM on 09/14/2011

My thumb has been really bothering me with arthritis. My big toe hasn't caused any problems, so I think I'll leave things the way they are.