Ear Grown on Ankle: Chinese Surgeons Perform World-First Reconstruction

Doctors in China have successfully reattached a woman's ear by first grafting it onto her ankle. This unusual procedure is believed to be a world first in reconstructive surgery. The patient lost her ear and part of her scalp in a severe workplace accident involving heavy machinery in April. The injury made immediate reattachment impossible. Surgeon Qiu Shenqiang explained that the ankle site was chosen to keep the ear alive and healthy. "We needed a place with sufficient blood supply to preserve the ear," said Qiu, deputy director of microsurgery at Shandong Provincial Hospital. The ankle provided the necessary tissue and blood vessels. After the ear healed on her foot for several weeks, surgeons then transplanted it back to her head. The procedure was reported by the medical news account Yixue Jie (Med-J). This innovative two-stage technique offers new hope for patients with severe traumatic injuries where direct reattachment is not an option.