Why Put Roy's Skull in His Stomach?

MSN Slate ^ | 10/21/2003 | Brendan I. Koerner

[veronica]

Just hours after Roy Horn was mauled by one of his tigers, doctors reportedly removed a portion of the Las Vegas illusionist's skull. Recent reports note that the fragment was implanted in a pouch in Horn's abdomen. Why place a piece of skull in someone's stomach? So it can be returned to the patient's head when the moment is right.

[Paleo Conservative]

Ping!

[Serb5150]

bump

[veronica]

I was amazed when I heard about this.

[_Jim]

I think you answered your own question ...

[11th Earl of Mar]

At least he doesn't have his head in his ass...

[beethoven]

Theoretically, it will help maintain the sterility of the bone prior to replacing it. There are other storage options, but this one proves to be quite successful.

[101st-Eagle]

I'm sure he is used to head matter in his stomach.

[veronica]

I know. I just found it so amazing and bizarre.

[Solamente]

Guess the other pouch was full up.

[Ramius]

And... they won't lose it. The doctor will know right where it is. If they put it in a freezer or some other storage there is always a risk of loss or damage.

[ibbryn]

Hey, I store my car keys in a similar place for exactly the same reason!

[Ramius]

It's good for sunglasses too.

[San Jacinto]

Storing the skull in the stomach is not a problem. The problem comes when he passes it.

[mdmathis6]

I saw this being done with craniotomy patients I worked with as a nurse. It maintains sterility and also keeps the "live" bone of the skull nourished!

[SpaceBar]

The point of the procedure was probably to bathe the bone tissue which is alive in oxygen rich blood to keep it viable until it was put back into his skull. Without such a technique the bone tissue would die and be unsuitable to use.

[berkeleybeej]

Ain't technology great??

When I think about the changes and improvements in technology, including medicine, over my 50+ years - I am in AWE.

Looking forward to the next 50.

[Conservative til I die]

Arse hole.