Surgeons Successfully Graft Human Ear to Patient’s Foot

A team of surgeons in Jinan, China, has achieved a remarkable medical feat by grafting a patient’s severed ear onto her foot. The patient, identified only by her surname, Sun, suffered devastating injuries in a workplace accident involving heavy machinery, which resulted in the loss of a significant portion of her scalp and her ear. This unprecedented procedure was reported by the South China Morning Post.

According to Qiu Shenqiang, the deputy director of the microsurgery unit at Shandong Provincial Hospital, the injuries to Sun’s scalp and vascular network were so severe that immediate reattachment of the ear was impossible. The surgical team faced the complex challenge of preserving the ear for later reattachment, as Sun’s skull required several months to heal adequately.

The gruesome nature of the accident left Sun’s scalp, neck, and face torn into multiple fragments. Qiu explained that while they initially attempted to repair the ear, they quickly encountered a grim reality: the skull needed extended recovery time. To address this, they decided to perform a radical procedure known as a heterotopic graft, which involves attaching a body part to a different location on the body for preservation.

The team chose to attach the ear to Sun’s foot, as the arteries and veins in that area are compatible with those found in the ear. Additionally, the skin and soft tissue on the foot are similar in thickness to those on the head, making it a practical choice. Despite the theoretical soundness of this approach, it had never before been attempted with an ear and foot.

The initial grafting procedure took a remarkable ten hours, during which the surgeons meticulously connected the delicate veins. However, just five days later, complications arose when the ear began to turn purplish black due to inadequate blood flow. This condition occurred as the connecting veins struggled to return blood to the heart, leading to pooling in the ear.

In response to this alarming situation, the surgical team undertook a labor-intensive intervention known as manual bloodletting, performing almost five hundred individual procedures to restore blood circulation to the ear. Once stabilized, the team focused on gradually healing Sun’s scalp and neck.

Five months after the accident, Sun’s scalp and neck healed sufficiently for the team to reattach the ear in October 2023. Following the successful procedure, Sun has been discharged from the hospital, with her facial and tissue functions largely restored. The innovative approach taken by Qiu and his team not only saved Sun’s ear but also showcased the potential for advanced surgical techniques in complex medical cases.