Doctors in China have achieved a remarkable medical feat by successfully grafting a patient’s severed ear to her foot. The procedure, reported by the South China Morning Post, was performed on a woman identified by her surname, Sun, following a serious workplace accident involving heavy machinery. The incident resulted in severe injuries, including the loss of a significant portion of her scalp and ear.
According to Qiu Shenqiang, the deputy director of the microsurgery unit at Shandong Provincial Hospital in Jinan, the condition of Sun’s scalp and vascular network was so critical that immediate reattachment of the ear was unfeasible. The intricate injuries left her scalp, neck, and face in multiple fragments, making it impossible to restore the ear right away.
The surgical team faced a challenging dilemma: the skull required several months to heal before the ear could be reattached. To preserve the ear during this healing period, the team opted for an unusual yet innovative solution—attaching the ear to her foot. This decision was based on the compatibility of the foot’s arteries and veins with those found in the ear, as well as the similarity in skin and soft tissue thickness.
Innovative Surgical Procedure
The operation began with a ten-hour grafting procedure in which the surgeons meticulously connected the delicate veins. Despite the theoretical soundness of the approach, it carried significant risks. Known as a heterotopic graft, this technique is not commonly performed with an ear and foot, as there is no historical precedent for such a procedure.
Five days post-surgery, complications emerged when the ear began to turn purplish black. This discoloration indicated that the connecting veins were struggling to return blood to the heart, resulting in blood pooling. The surgical team responded swiftly, employing manual bloodletting over the next five days, a labor-intensive process that required nearly 500 individual interventions to rescue the ear and restore blood flow.
Once the ear was stabilized, the team focused on gradually restoring Sun’s scalp. After five months of recovery from the accident, the scalp and neck healed sufficiently, allowing the team to reattach the ear to its proper location. This final procedure took place in October 2023, marking a significant milestone in Sun’s recovery journey.
Successful Outcome and Recovery
Sun has since been discharged from the hospital, with her facial and tissue functions largely restored. The groundbreaking procedure highlights the remarkable capabilities of modern microsurgery and the innovative approaches that can be taken in critical medical situations.
As medical professionals continue to explore pioneering surgical techniques, this case serves as a testament to the resilience of patients and the dedication of healthcare teams. The successful grafting of an ear to a foot not only showcases surgical ingenuity but also emphasizes the importance of adapting to unique challenges in the field of medicine.
