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New Ear For Transplant Grown From Patient's Own Arm

by Julia Samuel on Nov 10 2016 10:36 PM

New Ear For Transplant Grown From Patient
A doctor in China managed to grow an ear on a patient's arm.
Mr Ji underwent several procedures since being in a traffic accident a year ago. He has had facial skin and cheeks restored but his right ear, which was ripped from his head during the accident.

The man, who needed extensive plastic surgery after an accident, hopes to have the ear transplanted to his face. “I lost one ear. I have always felt that I am not complete” said Mr Ji.

First a skin expander was implanted under Mr Ji’s right forearm who underwent the procedure at a hospital in Xi'an in China's Shaanxi Province. Next cartilage was taken from his ribs in order to create the artificial ear, which was then planted in his forearm. Doctor Guo said this was the most difficult part of the surgery with most complications.

The final stage, to be carried out in the coming months, will involve the fully grown ear being removed from the patient's forearm and attaching it to his head using vascular anastomosis techniques.

“It will be four months at the earliest before we learn if Mr Ji gets his new ear. If he does, expect forearms to become the new host for all kinds of human organs”, said Dr. Guo.

Source-Medindia


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