Ear Replantation

In the images section of this weeks New England Journal there are 4 remarkable pictures. In the first is the site of the ear amputation, bitten off by a pit bull dog, in a 19 year old woman, while the second picture shows the retrieved ear after debriding. The arterial blood supply was restored using a branch of the posterior auricular artery. As no suitable veins were available leeches were applied to provide venous drainage for 17 days and the third picture shows a leech in action. The ear remained viable and the 4th picture shows a healthy looking ear at 24 days. At 4 months the ear was stable and a normal appearance was maintained. Truly remarkable!