Hand/Arm Transplant Definition Status History Worldwide Performance Functional Outcomes Psychological Outcomes Patient Experiences Potential Benefits Limitations Unknowns Myths and Facts
Process Transplant Evaluation Process Who is Eligible Who Makes a Good Candidate Contacting a Transplant Center Meeting the Transplant Team After Evaluation What is Surgery Like
Risks Surgical and Medical Acute and Chronic Rejection Removing the Hand Anti-Rejection Medicine Pain and Discomfort Emotional and Social
Recovery Surgical Recovery Rehabilitation Process Lifestyle Changes Caregiver's Role
Decision-Making Optional Treatment Weigh All Options Mental Health Changes Social Support Commitments Financial Costs
Options Cosmetic Prostheses Body-Powered Prostheses Electric Prostheses Myoelectric Prostheses Switch and Pressure Sensors LUKE Arm Osseointegration No Prosthesis
Resources 1 Glossary Hospital Finder Question Prompt Sheet Pamphlet Video Library Websites/Support Groups Study Findings
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Home > Hand/Arm Transplant > Definition

Definition

 

A hand/arm transplant means that a hand or upper limb from a deceased donor is surgically attached to a person with upper limb loss. Hand/arm transplants are a kind of vascularized composite allograft (VCA), meaning a type of transplant that includes skin, muscle, bone, blood vessels, nerves, and/or tissues as a unit.¹

Patients showing arm/hand transplant.
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Purpose of Hand/Arm Transplantation

  • A hand/arm transplant is performed to restore the motor functions and sensations of a person’s hand and to improve a person’s quality of life.2 For example, the transplant may restore a person’s ability to grasp objects, feel hot and cold, hold hands, write, type, play sports or music, and do many other activities of daily life.

  • Other potential benefits of a hand/arm transplant include improvements in a person’s appearance, balance when walking, and social integration.3,4

  • Hand/arm transplantation is not life-saving, but it can be “life-enhancing” because it can improve quality of life. However, there are risks involved with hand/arm transplantation, including medication side effects and the chance that the transplant will not function as expected.5
 

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Videos of Health Care Professionals

Dr. Jaimie Shores, Hand/Arm Transplant Surgeon, explains the purpose of hand/arm transplantation.

 

References

Sources

  1. ASSH position statement on hand transplantation 2013. J Hand Surg Am. 2013;38(11):2234-2235.

  2. Salminger S, Roche A, Sturma A, et al. Hand Transplantation versus Hand Prosthetics: pros and cons. Current Surgery Reports. 2016;4(2):8. 

  3. Jensen SE, Butt Z, Heinemann AW, et al. Perceptions of the Risks and Benefits of Upper Limb Transplantation Among Individuals with Upper Limb Amputations. Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery 2014;134(5):979-987.  

  4. Major MJ, Stine RS, Shirvaikar T, et al. Effects of Upper Limb Loss or Absence and Prosthesis Use on Postural Control of Standing Balance. Am J Phys Med Rehab 2020; 99: 366-371.

  5. Breidenbach WC. Hand Transplantation. Med J Aust. 2013;199(4):228-229.