Soldier loses ear, doctors grow one for her in her arms!
- IndiaGlitz, [Friday,May 11 2018]
Shamika Burrage belonging to the US Army was involved in a car accident two years ago in which she lost her left ear. However an Army medical centre in Texas helped her regain her ear, but ‘how’ is what’s going to make your jaws drop.
Cartilage from Burrage’s ribs was harvested to grow the ear for the soldier, but under her forearm. Yes, you read that right. Under the skin of her forearm. Then doctors were successfully able to transplant it from there to her head. Truly it’s a medical miracle.
The procedure is termed as prelaminated forearm free flap and has many advantages to it such as reduced scarring and the development of new blood vessels. Shamika Burrage who is 21 years old still has two more surgeries to go through, but remains very positive for the future.