Soldier who lost 4 limbs has double-arm transplant
Posted: 01/28/2013
BALTIMORE -
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 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.
Copyright 2013 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
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