The patient suffered a horrific workplace accident involving heavy machinery, which tore off a large part of her scalp and her ear with it. The damage to her scalp and vascular network was so severe that restoring the ear at the time was impossible, so the procedure was performed to save the patient’s aural orifice so it could be reattached to her head later.
They chose the foot because the arteries and veins there are compatible with those found in the ear. The foot’s skin and soft tissue are also similarly thin to the head’s.
Saving you a click:
The patient suffered a horrific workplace accident involving heavy machinery, which tore off a large part of her scalp and her ear with it. The damage to her scalp and vascular network was so severe that restoring the ear at the time was impossible, so the procedure was performed to save the patient’s aural orifice so it could be reattached to her head later.
For those curious as to why the foot: