Surgeon replaces patient's lost thumb with toe

NORFOLK, Va. (WAVY) — A surgeon at Sentara Norfolk General hospital in Virginia recently performed an unusual and very rare procedure. A patient lost a thumb — and decided to replace it with one of his toes.

It was an accident that could have jeopardized the patient's career.

"He had a big metal beam or sheet that fell on his thumb and basically amputated it.” Dr. Manas Nigam, a plastic surgeon with Sentara Health said.

Saving the thumb was the initial goal, but while they tried to reattach the bones...