El Paso, Texas — In a pioneering medical procedure that highlights the advancements in military reconstructive surgery, U.S. Army doctors successfully transplanted a new ear onto Private First Class Shamika Burrage after it was grown beneath the skin of her own forearm.
The remarkable story began in 2016 when Burrage, then a 19-year-old private stationed at Fort Bliss, Texas, survived a horrific single-vehicle car accident while driving back from visiting family in Mississippi. A tire blowout caused her car to skid approximately 700 feet before flipping multiple times, ejecting her from the vehicle. Burrage suffered severe injuries, including head trauma, compression fractures in her spine, extensive road rash, and the complete avulsion of her left ear. Her cousin, who was eight months pregnant and a passenger in the car, escaped with only minor injuries.
Doctors later informed Burrage that she had nearly bled to death and might not have survived without prompt medical intervention.
After months of physical rehabilitation, Burrage struggled emotionally with her changed appearance, particularly the loss of her ear. Initially hesitant about further surgery due to concerns over additional scarring, she considered a prosthetic but ultimately opted for a more natural solution.
Led by Lt. Col. Owen Johnson III, chief of plastic and reconstructive surgery at William Beaumont Army Medical Center, the surgical team performed what was described as the Army’s first total ear reconstruction using the patient’s own tissue.
Surgeons harvested cartilage from Burrage’s ribs and meticulously carved it into the shape of an ear. The structure was then implanted under the skin of her forearm, where it remained for several months. This innovative technique allowed the new ear to develop its own blood vessels through a process called neovascularization, integrating nerves and soft tissue to ensure future sensation and viability.
Once fully developed, the ear was transplanted to its proper position on Burrage’s head. Additional procedures reopened her ear canal to preserve hearing potential and used skin from her forearm to minimize scarring around the site.
“It’s been a long process for everything, but I’m back,” Burrage said in 2018 following the successful transplant. At the time, she expressed optimism about the outcome, noting that while a couple of follow-up surgeries remained, she was excited for the final result. Doctors projected that within about five years, the reconstructed ear would be nearly indistinguishable from her natural one and regain full sensation.
The procedure built on established reconstructive techniques used in civilian cases but marked a significant milestone for Army medicine, offering young service members like Burrage the best possible restoration after traumatic injuries.
Burrage, a native of Clarksdale, Mississippi, and a supply clerk with the 1st Battalion, 35th Armored Regiment, exemplified resilience throughout her recovery. Her case continues to inspire advancements in autologous tissue engineering and reconstructive surgery for trauma victims.