Soldier Re-Grows Leg Muscle After Experimental Procedure

Marine Isaias Hernandez has been able to grow back most of the missing muscle from his leg, including skeletal muscle, thanks to an experimental treatment involving an injection of a a growth promoting substance extracted from pig bladders. Hernandez lost 70% of his right thigh muscles from a mortar exploded attack in Afghanistan. Normally this type of injury would lead to an amputation. From the article: "In preparation for the operation, corporal Hernandez was made to build up the remaining 30 per cent of muscle left on the damaged thigh. Surgeons then sliced into the thigh, placing a thin slice of a substance called extracellular matrix. The surgery is the result of a $70 million investment by the US military into regenerative medicine research."

Comments

Quick-

[james_van]

Somebody tell House!

So what you're saying is...

[broginator]

... we can rebuild him? We do have the technology?

Re:a corporation could have done it for $7 million

[tverbeek]

In the 1970s they could have done it for $6 million, and gotten another leg, an arm, and an eye in the bargain. And they wouldn't have to sit around waiting for muscles to grow. It was on TV and everything.