SKIN-GRAFTING EXTRAORDINARY.

Taihape Daily Times, Issue 160, 8 September 1916, Page 3

SKIN-GRAFTING EXTRAORDINARY.

Sydney doctors are showing interest in the progress of a case which is under the control of one of the foremost surgeons of that city. His task involves the restoration of the nose of a railwayman, George Cox, who,] over twelve months ago, was the victim of a burning accident. The first operation

necessitated a long flap of skin being cut, and raised from the front of the abdomen, and with the two ends still joined to the body, the patient's arm was placed under the flap, and the skin allowed to grow on to his arm. After the arm had been kept in this position for a mouth* the skin flap was cut from the abdomen, and the arm was attached to the forehead on a spot Avhich had been prepared by the surgeon 's knife. The flap on the arm soon secured a good grip on to the forehead, the purpose of the second operation being to allow the skin and flesh, which is now of some size, to contract and become more dense. Th e flap has had a further eighteen weeks to continue its growth, but the patient, always with his arm drawn tightly to his forehead, has now reached a stage which will decide the success for which all this preparation has been made. Within the next week or so the flap of skin Will b e - cut from the forehead,, and will be

fashioned over the nose. Only the surgeon knows how the nose is to be given shape, but the result of the operation is awaited with interest by the public, as well as by the medical profession.