Leg Transplant – UK Surgery First
A MOTORCYCLIST who lost part of his leg in a horror road crash is set to have it rebuilt by surgeons in a British first – thanks to a donor’s bones.
Stu Jotham, 29, was thrown from his bike in 2011 and lost part of his femur and tibula plus all his knee ligaments as he skidded across the road.
Surgeons managed to save his mangled right leg. But Stu, who had to give up his job as a landscape gardener, was left wheelchair bound and in pain.
Now he is preparing himself for a life-changing reconstruction next month which will see surgeons join parts of his leg to what remains of his limb.
Stu, of Gloucs, said: “As far as I’m aware this is the first time they are going to do it on this scale in this country so I’m a bit of a guinea pig.
“I don’t mind because hopefully it will restore some sort of stability in my knee. They want to take the femur, ligaments and a bit of the fibula and the bolt them onto my leg. Hopefully over two years it will integrate.”
He added: “I’d love to find out who the donor is or his family and just send them a letter to say thank you.”
The accident happened in Gloucestershire as Stu headed to Devon for a day out. Surgeons at Bristol’s Frenchday Hospital later warned there was a high chance he would lose his leg.
the NHS Blood and Transplant Authority confirmed that the operation is thought to be the first of its kind in the UK.
A spokesman said: “We wish Mr Jotham well with his operation and hope he makes a speedy recovery.”
“Lets hope the NHS will get a success story!.”
Perkins, H. Smash motorcyclist. Daily Express 3rd Jan 2015, p. 21.
