Science is incredible in the ways it can simultaneously horrify you and make you feel all nice and squishy inside. Of course, you would want to feel squishy inside, otherwise you may have to see your doctor.
This is one such story.
Sherrie Walters was diagnosed with aggressive basal cell cancer, which required part of her ear, skull and ear canal to be removed. But doctors at Johns Hopkins had been waiting for the perfect patient to give a new form of regenerative science a try.
Dr. Patrick Byrne, a reconstructive and plastic surgeon, took lead on the project, and used rib cartilage to build the ear, and the placed it under the skin of her arm to allow it to grow.
And grow it did.
By all accounts, the surgery to take the ear out of her arm and attach it to her head is a success. Bryne says now what’s left is letting the swelling go down.
Soon, the surgeon says, she’ll have a normal looking ear. Doctors and the public alike hail this as an incredible use of modern technology.
Doctors, however, are concerned about the use of butt chugging. As are we.
Question: What medical breakthrough do you find the most fascinating?
