Johns Hopkins performs world's first 'total' penis transplant, on veteran wounded by IED blast

Johns Hopkins surgeons performed the most complex penis transplant ever in late March...

transplant teamJohns Hopkins surgeons performed the most complex penis transplant ever in late March on a soldier who lost his genitals during a bomb blast in Afghanistan.

Over the course of 14 hours, specialists transplanted a penis, a scrotum and a part of the abdominal wall from a deceased donor onto the wounded soldier, Johns Hopkins announced Monday. The handful of similar transplants previously performed at hospitals in Massachusetts, South Africa and China involved only a penis.

The Hopkins doctors said the surgery appears so far to have gone smoothly and are optimistic the patient, who wishes to remain anonymous, will gain full function.

“It is our hope that such a life-changing transplant will allow him to regain urinary and sexual function and lead a normal life,” said Dr. Richard Redett, a professor of plastic and reconstructive surgery at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine.

Center Director Bob Troug is quoted within this article. Read the full story here.