This year there have been two cases where an alligator ripped the arm off a man. The first case, in April, got wide publicity because of a huge photo in Popular Science magazine.

What the photo showed was an alligator at a Taipei zoo standing there with the guy's arm in his mouth. In September, the same thing happened again in South Carolina. This time the alligator swallowed the arm, but the limb was retrieved when the gator was killed.

In both cases, doctors tried to reattach the arms.

The art and science of replantation gets better every year. Surgeons are having more and more success reattaching things like arms and fingers. But for replantation to have a chance, three things must happen quickly.

- Save the patient.

- Save time.

- Save the limb.

Obviously, saving the patient is the most important thing. The patient must be removed from danger and the bleeding must be stopped. Then, 911 emergency services must be called immediately. Emergency dispatch operators can help the caller stabilize the patient for transport. They'll also need to know the patient has a severed limb.{M3 Reattaching a limb is a complex process and time is of the essence. Emergency operators will notify a hospital so they can assemble a surgical team.

In the meantime, the severed limb must be stabilized. It needs to be kept moist and cool. The recommended procedure is to wrap the digit or limb in wet paper towels, then wrap it in plastic and pack it in ice. Ice should not directly touch the limb, because that can cause frostbite.

Once the patient and the limb arrive at the hospital, the miracle of science can take over. An orthopedic surgeon will normally do the operation. Reattaching a limb is complex, but the basic steps are easy to understand.

The bone must be reattached. Usually it is shortened a little and cleaned up. Then the bone ends are wired or pinned together. Next, tendons and muscles are repaird. Then the arteries, veins and nerve endings can be sewn back together. And finally the skin. Doctors can use skin from other parts of the body to cover the damaged area.

After the reattachment heals, it won't be perfect. And some additional surgery may be required. It would be unreasonable to expect that after such trauma, the limb will resume 100 percent function. But patients often get half or more of the limb's functionality back. Children usually have a better prognosis because their still-growing nerves have a good chance of knitting back together. And physical therapy can help with range of motion, flexibility and muscle control.