Hand Transplant: Past, Now and Future

Fatemi, MJ

Hand Transplant: Past, Now and Future

Document Type : Review Article

Author

MJ Fatemi

Professor of Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery, Burn Research Center, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Hazrate Fateme Hospital, Tehran, Iran

Abstract

Hand is the most functional organ of the body which is involved in activities of daily living and also the most vulnerable part of the human body. Every year, a significant number of people lose their hands due to traffic accidents, electrical burns, occupational accidents and other traumas. There are also cases of disabled children born without hands due to genetic diseases or pregnancy complications. Vascular diseases, diabetes, infections and cancers can cause a person cut or lose their hand. A Human being without hands loses 54% of their function. It also has negative physical, psychological and social effects. Hand transplant is a desirable therapeutic approach for people with one hand or even without them. Hand transplantation is performed in a few centers around the world. It helps a person regain some of the motor and sensory functions of hand and subsequently aids in improving patient's quality of life. This study indicates history and characteristics of candidates for transplant, preoperative and post-operative interventions as well as hand transplant complications.

Keywords

Hand Transplant

Hand Amputation

Hand Trauma

Hand Prosthesis

Quality of Life

1. Amirlak B. Hand Transplantation. Emedicine/ Medscape. Available at: http://emedicine.medscape.com / article / 1370502 overview. Accessed: January 3, 2017.

2. The International Registry on Hand and Composite Tissue Transplantation). IRHCTT. Available at https://www.handregistry.com/index.php. Accessed: January 3, 2017.

3. Breidenbach WC, Meister EA, Becker GW, Turker T, Gorantla VS, Hassan K, et al. A Statistical Comparative Assessment of Face and Hand Transplantation Outcomes to Determine Whether Either Meets the Standard of Care Threshold. Plast Reconstr Surg. 2016 Jan. 137 (1): 214e-222e.

4. Lanzetta M, Petruzzo P, Dubernard JM, et al. Second report (1998-2006) of the International Registry of Hand and Composite Tissue Transplantation. Transpl Immunol. 2007 Jul. 18(1): 1-6.

5. Shores JT, Brandacher G, Lee WP. Hand and upper extremity transplantation: an update of outcomes in the worldwide experience. Plast Reconstr Surg. 2015 Feb. 135 (2): 351e-60e.

6. Tobin GR, Breidenbach WC, Klapheke MM, et al. Ethical considerations in the early composite tissue allograft experience: a review of the Louisville Ethics Program. Transplant Proc. 2005 Mar. 37(2): 1392-5.

7. Brandacher G, Shores JT, Lee WA. Hand Transplantation. In From Auto-to All transplantation 2016 (Vol. 5, pp. 79-92). Karger Publishers.

8. Chad R. Gordon, Joseph M. Serletti, Kirby S. Black and Charles W. Hewitt. The Evolution of Composite Tissue Allotransplantation: theTwentieth Century Realization of. Charles W. Hewitt, W. P. Andrew Lee and Chad R. Gordon. Transplantation of Composite Tissue Allografts. Springer US; 2007. 13-25.

9. Jones JW, Gruber SA, Barker JH, et al. Successful hand transplantation. One-year follow-up. Louisville Hand Transplant Team. N Engl J Med. 2000 Aug 17. 343(7): 468-73.

10. Tobin GR, Breidenbach WC 3^rd, Pidwell DJ, et al. Transplantation of the hand, face, and composite structures: evolution and current status. Clin Plast Surg. 2007 Apr. 34(2): 271-8, ix-x.

11. Amirlak B. Personal communication, Breidenbach W. During hand transplantation. Louisville, Ky: Jewish Hospital Hand Care Center; Nov 30, 2006.

12. Hand Transplant. Composite Tissue Allotransplantation. Available at www.handtransplant.com. Accessed: January 3, 2017.

13. Hand Transplant Program/Eligibility. Available at: http://www.childrenshospital.org / centers – and
services/hand-transplant-program/eligibility. Accessed: January 3, 2017.

14. Hand Transplant Program/Eligibility. Available at: http://www.childrenshospital.org /centers-and services/hand-transplant-program /financial considerations. Accessed: January 3, 2017.

15. Hand Transplant Patient Guide/ Why are hand transplantations being done?Availableat:http://www.brighamandwomens.org/Departments and_Services/surgery/services/PlasticSurg/forms/HandTransplant%20Patient Guide (02%2006%2014).pdf.

16. Amirlak B, Gonzalez R, Gorantla V, Breidenbach WC, Tobin GR. Creating a hand transplant program. Clinics in plastic surgery. 2007 Apr 30; 34(2):
279-89.

17. Margreiter R, Brandacher G, Ninkovic M, Steurer W, Kreczy A, Schneeberger S. A double-hand transplant can be worth the effortTransplantation. 2002 Jul 15; 74(1): 85-90.

18. Brandacher G, Ninkovic M, Piza-Katzer H, Gabl M, Hussl H, Rieger M, Schocke M, Egger K, Loescher W, Zelger B, Bonatti H. The Innsbruck hand transplant program: update at 8 years after the first transplant. In Transplantation proceedings 2009, Mar 31 (Vol. 41, No. 2, pp. 491-494). Elsevier.

19. Francois CG, Breidenbach WC, Maldonado C, Kakoulidis TP, Hodges A, Dubernard JM, Owen E, Pei G, Ren X, Barker JH. Hand transplantation: comparisons and observations of the first four clinical cases. Microsurgery. 2000 Jan 1; 20(8): 360-71.

20. Thaunat O, Badet L, El-Jaafari A, Kanitakis J, Dubernard JM, Morelon E. Composite tissue allograft extends a helping hand to transplant immunologists. American Journal of transplantation. 2006 Oct 1; 6(10): 2238-42.

21. Dubernard JM, Owen E, Lefrançois N, Petruzzo P, Martin X, Dawahra M, Jullien D, Kanitakis J, Frances C, Preville X, Gebuhrer L. First human hand transplantation. Transplant international. 2000 Jun 1; 13(S1).