Bomb victim Franz (61) from the S-Bahn: The dramatic fight for his leg - tomorrow's fifth operation
Created: 12/15/2021 Updated: 12/15/2021, 5:15 PM
From: Andreas Beez
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Franz Müller with trauma surgeons Prof. Chlodwig Kirchhoff (left) and Prof. Peter Biberthaler.
© Private
Fragments of this World War II bomb also hit Franz Müller.
© Matthias Balk / dpa
His fate shakes Munich: A 61-year-old construction worker was blown up with a World War II bomb.
The doctors at the university hospital on the right of the Isar do everything to save his extremely badly injured leg.
In tz and Münchner Merkur, the head of the surgical team, Professor Dr.
Chlodwig Kirchhoff, the surgical marathon.
He feels a little better every day.
Professor Dr.
Chlodwig Kirchhoff, Deputy Head of Trauma Surgery at the University Hospital on the right of the Isar.
He jumped the shovel of death - or rather: flown!
Now Franz Müller (61; name changed) is fighting his way back to life.
A good two weeks after the bomb explosion at Donnersbergerbrücke, the brave construction worker has reached an important milestone: his extremely badly injured leg has survived the most critical phase.
The great danger of infection - including from contaminated bomb fragments - has been averted for the time being, the blood circulation is working.
"He feels a little better every day," reports Prof. Chlodwig Kirchhoff, Vice-Head of Trauma Surgery and Head of the Operations Team at the University Hospital on the right of the Isar, in an interview with tz.
Construction workers threatened to bleed to death
Numerous emergency services were quickly on site when a World War II bomb exploded on a construction site in Munich.
© Sven Hoppe / dpa
Müller was brought in by rescue helicopter on December 1st after a World War II bomb with an explosive force of 110 kilos of TNT went off right next to him.
The life of the construction worker was in danger of bleeding to death.
In a first emergency operation, an interdisciplinary team of over ten doctors succeeded in stabilizing the patient.
But the fight for his leg is not won yet.
Kirchhoff & Co. have now operated on the patient four times, and tomorrow he will have to go under the knife for the fifth time.
Leg almost completely torn to shreds over a length of seven centimeters
Professor Dr.
Chlodwig Kirchhoff, head of the surgical team that looked after the seriously injured construction worker.
© from
The fact that he has so far been spared an amputation is considered a medical masterpiece.
"The leg was almost completely torn over a length of about seven centimeters," explains trauma surgeon Kirchhoff.
“Fortunately, an important nerve and a large blood vessel were spared.
This gives rise to legitimate hopes that we can save the leg.
We are now working on restoring the functionality step by step.
Bones and muscles have already been supplied, and now, among other things, the reconstruction of the skin is pending. "
The lengthy healing process demands a lot of strength from the father of three - not only physically but also mentally.
He needs time to process the experience of the bomb explosion.
Encouraging prognosis from the medical team
On his difficult path to overcome the trauma, the trauma surgeons can give him courage with a good prognosis for his leg.
Kirchhoff at tz: "The chances are good that our patient will be able to walk again in the foreseeable future."
Andreas Beez