Limb reconstruction - fighting sepsis was just the beginning

It was the middle of October 2023 when we got the call about Craig Mackinlay, an MP in Kent at the time, who had survived sepsis but was fighting for his limbs. Craig arrived with his wife at St Thomas’ Hospital, just across the river from Craig’s place of work at The Palace of Westminster, straight into the intensive care unit to be stabilised, before moving to the high dependency unit. 

As the Head of Plastic Surgery and in charge of the trauma reconstruction service, I gathered our team of experts - orthopaedic surgeons, vascular surgeons, ITU doctors - to take stock of Craig’s situation and plot a course of action. 

Rather than perform a drastic amputation immediately, in fear of the tissue decay spreading, we decided to wait until we knew the full extent of the damage and make a surgical plan accordingly. As a team we decided to see how much tissue was still healthy in order to save as much length in the arms and legs as possible. A drastic amputation would have robbed Craig of his elbows and knees, which we know are crucial for maximising a patient’s quality of life after amputation. While we waited, we managed tissue damage to Craig's face and performed a procedure of debriding to remove any dead skin.

Six weeks later on December 1st, the surgical team and I performed the amputations on both arms and legs over a 5 hour operation. We managed to salvage as much healthy tissue as possible which has helped Craig in his recovery. “Thank heavens. I am lucky. I have my knees and my elbows which makes a big difference.”

Further operations were required to help the amputated limbs heal. On one occasion we performed reconstructive surgery to the left arm by taking a skin flap from the thigh, with its own blood supply, and plumbing it into the arm where there was not enough living skin to keep the bone covered. This procedure took 11 hours. 

The day after Boxing Day 2023 Craig was well enough to leave the high dependency unit for a stay on the surgical ward where the team, specialists in limb loss, took care of him. In January 2024 Craig had his first leg cast made for his new prosthesis. In February he managed to walk out of St Thomas’ Hospital with a frame and started walking unaided in March. In May he made an emotional appearance at PMQs in the House of Commons and generously paid thanks to the NHS staff that had helped save his life and salvage his limbs. 

Recovery from traumatic injuries like these is very long and difficult and the whole team at St Thomas’ and the amputee unit wley Close has been there for Craig and his wife to help them through it as best they could. Now as a Right Honourable member of the House of Lords Craig is campaigning for improvements to sepsis awareness, treatment and the care of amputees.

Learn more about Craig's sepsis story.