Researchers from John Hopkins University Of Medicine will make history in 2016 when they perform the first penis transplant in the United States on a soldier that was wounded in Afghanistan and have plans on performing similar transplants on at least 60 other soldiers who suffered from genital injuries during combat.
The organ will come from a deceased donor, and the surgeons from Baltimore’s John Hopkins University, say they expect it to start working in a matter of months, developing urinary function, sensation and eventually, the ability to have sex. The doctors have permission to perform 60 of these surgeries and with the high number of genital injuries during combat on the rise, or rather just coming to light, the demand of this surgery will undoubtedly be high. The operation will take 12 hours and cost between $200,000 and $400,000. John Hopkins has offered to pay for the first surgery.
There have reportedly only been two other penis transplants; one failed transplant in China in 2006 and a successful transplant in 21 year old South African who had problems during a traditional circumsion ceremony.
Almost 1,400 soldiers have had genital injuries during combat since the war on terrorism began at the turn of the century.
