Soldier who lost 4 limbs has double-arm transplant
 

By MARILYNN MARCHIONE
AP Chief Medical Writer
The first soldier to survive after losing all four limbs in the Iraq war has received a double-arm transplant in Baltimore.

His father says Brendan Marrocco (muh-ROCK-oh) had the operation on Dec. 18 at Johns Hopkins Hospital. Marrocco is 26 and lives in New York City. He was injured by a roadside bomb in 2009.

He also received bone marrow from the same dead donor who supplied his new arms. That novel approach is aimed at helping his body accept the new limbs with minimal medication to prevent rejection.

It is the seventh double-hand or double-arm transplant done in the United States. The military is sponsoring operations like these to help wounded troops. About 300 have lost arms or hands in the wars.

Surgeons plan to discuss the transplant Tuesday.


Soldier who lost 4 limbs has double-arm transplant - FOX 8 WVUE New Orleans News, Weather, Sports


I am so hoping that this works well for him.

Re: Soldier who lost 4 limbs has double-arm transplant
 

Same here!

And thanks for your service to our country!!

Re: Soldier who lost 4 limbs has double-arm transplant
 

The medical developments we are seeing nowadays are just awesome. Just the thought of reattaching or replacing a limb that was cut of is amazing. Athroscopic surgery is changing how knees and other joints are repaired greatly reducing the risks of infection. Heart surgery through tubes inserted in the groin area instead of sawing the ribcage open.
Truly amazing.

Re: Soldier who lost 4 limbs has double-arm transplant
 

What a trooper. <salute>

With all the medical advances/technology, I wonder if the plan is to attempt leg transplants at a later date as well. It would be a historic breakthrough for medicine, I think.

Re: Soldier who lost 4 limbs has double-arm transplant
 

Sure would be. And with stem cell rsearch about to take off I believe spinal cord injuries and paralyzis will be curable in the next 20 years.

Re: Soldier who lost 4 limbs has double-arm transplant
 

BBC News - Brendan Marrocco, US quadruple amputee, gets new arms

Soldier looks forward to driving, swimming with both arms | Fox News

Re: Soldier who lost 4 limbs has double-arm transplant
 

That is a great story, good for him.