[Constantine XI Palaeologus]

"on the hopes that the right section of Jessica's skull could one day be reattached, Poffenbarger sliced open Jessica's abdomen and placed the four-inch bone inside her body."

What!? Why can't you just put it in some tupperware with some fluids (I assume he had a good reason for using her abdomen as a depository). Good to see the dedication these doctors have.

[slightlyovertaxed]

What!? Why can't you just put it in some tupperware with some fluids (I assume he had a good reason for using her abdomen as a depository). Good to see the dedication these doctors have.

Human tissue, by and large, isn't much like a plant cutting. You can't just stick it in a jar of nutrients and hope that it doesn't die in the interim (or grow a whole new bit :p). Remember that a bone is many cell layers thick and something has to get waste products out and O2, minerals, protein, etc. in. Putting it in her body is the safest thing and is very common. Skin grafts, for example.

[bpjam]

you can't use tupperware because there are no red cells or white cells in there.

[paulat]

(I assume he had a good reason for using her abdomen as a depository).

Bone is a living thing. Blood vessels regrow when they are in contact with other blood vessels.

This wonderful surgeon wouldn't have done it if your "Tupperware" nasty comment would have sufficed.