JOHANNESBURG – A three-year-old girl who underwent a groundbreaking skin graft operation at the Garden City Clinic in Johannesburg, is in a stable condition.

Around 40 pieces of skin, which were specially cloned and grown in the United States, were transplanted onto Pippie Kruger’s back, face, chest, arms and legs on Monday evening.

Garden City Hospital manager Esme Abrahams said Kruger was doing well.

“Pippie had a quiet night. She’s been placed on a ventilator and it was just routine care that was rendered throughout the night.”

The cloned skin, which has a 24-hour shelf life, was flown in from Boston on a 21-hour flight.

It had to be rushed to the hospital. 

One of the surgeons who worked on Kruger’s case said the operation was a complicated procedure.

Plastic surgeon Dr Ridwan Mia said the window period for the viability of the grown skin and logistics of keeping her body warm were complex.

But he said he was thrilled with the overall success of the operation.

It is unclear when the little girl will be allowed to go home, but she will be sedated for the next week.

Kruger has been in hospital since New Year’s Day, after she sustained third degree burns to 80 percent of her body during a braai accident. 

(Edited by Thato Motaung)