Skin Graft on 3-year-old Toddler Was a Success!

Three-year-old Pippie Kruger who sustained third degree burns to 80 percent of her body, has successfully undergone a Skin Graft at the Johannesburg's Garden City Clinic in South Africa.

Plastic Surgeon, Dr Ridwan Mia said it took longer than they [surgeons] thought and they needed to be extremely careful in removing Pippie's initial dressings. He said the toddler was stable through out the operation and that her dressings would have to be changed every two to three hours.

Dr Mia mentioned that such procedures are usually done in the United States and Europe. In Pippie's case, 90 percent of her skin was grown in a laboratory in the United States and flown to South Africa but in some areas, the skin did not attach to her body. Sheets of her own skin were also taken from her groins and grown for the operation.

The toddler had been hospitalized since a bottle of flammable liquid exploded in her father's hands, leaving her covered in flames at a bar in December, 2011. After six months of staying in the high care unit of the Johannesburg's Garden City Clinic, where the graft was performed for the first time in Africa, Erwin and Anice Kruger [Pippie's Parents] are happy with the success.

These photos show Pippie over the last week.

Courtesy:
Story by Sapa - Pippie's Skin Graft A Success!
howzit msn.com/Africa - Little Pippie's Operation Successful