Physicians hope to perform 2nd surgery in two weeks

The nine-member medical board, formed for treatment of tree man Abul Bajandar, in a meeting yesterday decided to perform another surgery in his left hand once it is satisfied with the improvement of his right hand in which doctors on February 20 conducted a three-hour-long surgery and removed its warts.

The physicians hoped that the second surgery would be conducted within two weeks as the medical board expressed satisfaction with the improvement in his right hand, Samanta Lal Sen, coordinator of the National Institute Burn and Plastic Surgery, told The Daily Star.

For over ten years, Bajandar, 26, has been suffering from epidermodysplasia verruciformis, a rare skin disorder commonly known as the tree man illness, which covers limbs with warts, making them look like a tree branch.

Samanta Lal said it will take at least one year to release Bajandar from the hospital.

Prof Abul Kalam, who is leading the team, said the doctors are aiming to bring usability of Bajandar's hands but the hands may not resemble those of a normal person.

"We hope to reach our goal in stages of procedures for refinement," he added.

With no use of his limbs, Bajandar, believed to be the fourth man in the world with tree man illness, got admitted at the National Institute of Burn and Plastic Surgery on January 30.