Sydney surgeons cut off bull rider Zac Mitchell’s big toe to replace thumb

A CATTLE worker whose thumb was chopped off in a tussle with a bull has had his big toe surgically removed and attached to his hand in a remarkable medical feat by a Sydney surgeon.

Despite efforts to preserve the thumb by stashing it among cold beers, 20-year-old bull rider Zac Mitchell was told the radical surgery was the best option for returning function to his hand.

The entire thumb was ripped off after a bull kicked Mr Mitchell’s hand and slammed the thumb against a fence during a horror incident on a remote cattle property in northern Western Australia in April.

Dr Nicklin said the suggestion by Perth doctors that Mr Mitchell have his hand sown into his groin was not the best practice.

“It is a technique but it’s a bit old … having our hand stuck in your groin for three weeks is not very nice, it can all be a bit messy.”

Source: Sydney surgeons cut off bull rider Zac Mitchell’s big toe to replace thumb torn off in accident | Perth Now