A St. Francis Medical Center surgeon played a key role in saving a man that was trapped in an Advance, Missouri grain elevator on Thursday.
Dr. Orlando Morejon was airlifted to the scene to provide immediate attention and help extract 29-year old Joshua Blankenship of Zalma, Missouri. Blankenship’s leg was caught in a large bin grain auger, which is like an overgrown drill bit. Auger blades dug into Blankenship’s leg in four different locations.
Dr. Morejon said blades from the auger caught Blankenship in the mid thigh and between the lower part of the knee and ankle.
“Closer to his hip region, there was a vertical plate that came down and it was pinching the back of his thigh downward, so he was pinned down in at least four different locations, two of which had actually gone into his leg,” Dr. Morejon said.
The trauma surgeon brought a mini operating room to the grain elevator. Despite the rugged conditions and dust-filled air, the surgeon was able to save Blankenship’s leg ... and his life.
“The leg is viable all the way down to the toes,” Dr. Morejon said. “There remains a question of the functionality meaning nerve injury. He will be at risk for infections because of the nature of the injuries but he does have a leg and I believe he has a very good chance of surviving this with the leg intact. Again, it will be a question of functionality.”
Blankenship remained conscious throughout the extraction. Dr. Morejon says Blankenship is in fair condition. He will be moved to St.Louis for further care.