Elastic band from little boy's wrist surgically removed after it grew into his flesh

Surgeons have successfully removed a rubber band from a young boy's wrist in China after it had it had grown right into his flesh. The 4-year-old boy, who is known as Longlong, was also at a risk of getting his arm amputated had the operation been delayed any further, according to People's Daily Online.

Doctors who treated Longlong explained that the object was affecting the boy’s bone growth and was preventing him from moving his arms freely. Reports say that Longlong had been given a silver bracelet by his mother when he was just a year old as a protection charm. But last December, his grandmother noticed that the bracelet was too tight for him and took it off. She then discovered that a red mark was left on the boy’s wrist and it had become red and swollen. Although she took the boy to the hospital for a check up, the mark did not fade away.

Longlong’s condition worsened in June when a giant blister appeared on his wrist. When doctors drained it and cut the skin open, they were shocked to find a rubber band growing into the flesh of his wrist. He was also unable to stretch his left arm straight. Dr. Fu said that X-ray reports showed that the bone of the boy’s wrist was being affected by the rubber band.

“If we didn't take the rubber band out, Longlong might have faced the danger of amputation,” the doctors were quoted as saying. After the surgery, the boy confessed to his mother that he had tied the rubber band on his wrist.