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, nerves, and tendons the damage was so bad, it was impossible.

“If you get blood flow to one part of it, the rest of........

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