Estimated read time: Less than a minute
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
ROYAL OAK, Mich. (AP) — A surgeon has created a new ear for a Michigan girl whose face was mauled by a pet raccoon when she was a baby.
The procedure for Charlotte Ponce (PON'-say) was performed Tuesday at Beaumont Hospital in Royal Oak.
Dr. Kongkrit Chaiyasate (SHY'-ah-set) took cartilage from Charlotte's ribs and carved it into the shape of an ear using a computer-generated template based on the 11-year-old's other ear.
He then implanted the ear structure under the skin of Charlotte's forearm. The skin will mold to the ear shape over a period of weeks.
Chaiyasate says he's "pleased with the outcome of Charlotte's surgery."
The doctor already has done work rebuilding Charlotte's nose and repairing her lip and cheek.
Copyright © The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
