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Woman Manages to “Grow Back” Missing Digits on Phantom Limb

by Kathy Jones on Aug 14 2012 7:39 PM

 Woman Manages to “Grow Back” Missing Digits on Phantom Limb
A 57-year old woman in America who was born without a thumb and a finger and whose hand was amputated following an accident when she was 18 years old has managed to “grow” back the missing digits on her phantom limb.
Neurologists at University of California in San Diego said that the woman, who was identified only as RN, had her right hand amputated after going through a car crash. She continued to feel the presence of her hand, even after amputation, but her phantom hand also had the two missing digits though they were smaller than the remaining three fingers.

The neurologists treated her by making us of a mirror box which reflected the woman’s left hand in order to make it look as if she had both of her hands. The woman was able to extend her short fingers and relieve the pain.

“The presence of the deformed hand was suppressing the brain's innate representation of her fingers which is why they appeared shorter, but after the hand was removed and the inhibition taken away, the innate representation kicks in again”, University of California’s Dr Paul McGeoch said.


Source-Medindia


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