Nebraska surgeon performs 'urban legend' 5-finger reattachment surgery

[Omaha Steve]

http://www.livewellnebraska.com/health/nebraska-surgeon-performs-urban-legend--finger-reattachment-surgery/article_d8c26580-2316-11e4-8ce9-0017a43b2370.html




JAKE WRAGGE/WORLD-HERALD NEWS SERVICE
Dr. Tristan Hartzell discusses what he called an “urban legend” replantation surgery during a press conference Wednesday.


Posted: Wednesday, August 13, 2014 1:22 pm
By Andrea Larson / World-Herald News Service

A severe industrial accident in July could have left a woman without any of the fingers on her right hand if not for the talents of a Norfolk, Nebraska, surgeon and his 13-member medical team.

Dr. Tristan Hartzell, a hand and upper extremity surgeon with Faith Regional Health Services, was previously involved in the second face transplant in the world as well as the first hand transplant in the western United States.

In this case, he performed what he called an “urban legend” replantation surgery — the reattachment of all five fingers on one hand.

At a Wednesday morning press conference at the hospital to discuss the operation, Hartzell said the patient — a woman in her 30s — had her fingers severed off her dominant hand in an industrial accident by a huge blade used to cut heavy items. The incident occurred between 7 and 8 a.m. on July 24.

FULL story at link.

[brer cat]

1. Amazing.

I cannot imagine reattaching so many tiny parts.

[freshwest]

2. Great. And glad to have these experts at work doing this.

[mopinko]

3. cuz science