Chinese surgeons perform world's first ear transplant onto patient’s foot
In Jinan city, Shandong province, Chinese surgeons have successfully performed the world’s first transplantation of an ear onto a patient’s foot after she suffered severe injuries in a workplace accident in April. This was done as a temporary measure to preserve the ear before restoring it to its original position.
Source Scmp
Due to extensive damage and the impossibility of immediately reattaching the ear to the head, surgeons transplanted it onto the upper part of the foot, chosen for its similar skin thickness and suitable blood vessels. The operation took over 10 hours. Additionally, Sun underwent a skin graft from her abdomen to her head and more than 500 procedures to restore blood circulation. After five months, the ear was successfully relocated back to its original place. The patient has since been discharged and is undergoing rehabilitation, including eyebrow restoration and scar reduction on the foot.
This remarkable case showcases new frontiers in reconstructive surgery and paves the way for treating complex injuries in the future.
