Since the eighteen-year-old patient, Xing Bingtao, was a legal adult with no immediate family present, Yan Feifan brought him out of his anesthetic-induced coma to explain the pros and cons of the surgical options: transplanting toe bones or using one of his own ribs.
For example, transplanting toe bones to replace the finger bones was a relatively quick and easy procedure. The bones would adapt well and be strong and durable.
However, his toe bones were short. After the transplant, his right thumb and other fingers would be noticeably shorter, making them look quite unsightly and less flexible than before.
Furthermore, his toes would become soft, floppy little nubs of flesh, which would also slightly affect his ability to walk.
If they chose to use a rib to reconstruct the hand bones, the first drawback was that the surgery time would be significantly extended.
