Surgeons have reattached a toddler's leg in a marathon operation as his mother, accused of severing the limb with an axe, undergoes psychiatric assessment.
The 17-month-old boy was rushed to Melbourne's Royal Children's Hospital after his mother allegedly attacked him at a house at Mont Albert, in the city's east, early today.
Police said an axe had been used in the attack.
Hospital spokeswoman Julie Webber said a team of three plastic surgeons, two orthopaedic surgeons, a general surgeon, two anaesthetists and five nurses worked for more than eight hours to save the boy's leg.
``He is in a critical but stable condition in intensive care,'' Ms Webber said.
``We won't know until the end of the week if the reattachment was successful.''
Acting Sergeant Andrew Huntington said the boy's 21-year-old mother was arrested at the Bundoran Parade home after police were called to the scene about 2am (AEDT).
The Department of Human Services was investigating the incident.
``We have no idea as to what led to it, what caused it (the attack), and the 21-year-old female is obviously assisting police with our inquiries,'' Sgt Huntington said.
``As to what took place, we really don't know at this stage.
http://www.smh.com.au/news/national/axe-attack-toddlers-leg
The 17-month-old boy was rushed to Melbourne's Royal Children's Hospital after his mother allegedly attacked him at a house at Mont Albert, in the city's east, early today.
Police said an axe had been used in the attack.
Hospital spokeswoman Julie Webber said a team of three plastic surgeons, two orthopaedic surgeons, a general surgeon, two anaesthetists and five nurses worked for more than eight hours to save the boy's leg.
``He is in a critical but stable condition in intensive care,'' Ms Webber said.
``We won't know until the end of the week if the reattachment was successful.''
Acting Sergeant Andrew Huntington said the boy's 21-year-old mother was arrested at the Bundoran Parade home after police were called to the scene about 2am (AEDT).
The Department of Human Services was investigating the incident.
``We have no idea as to what led to it, what caused it (the attack), and the 21-year-old female is obviously assisting police with our inquiries,'' Sgt Huntington said.
``As to what took place, we really don't know at this stage.
http://www.smh.com.au/news/national/axe-attack-toddlers-leg
