A new option for amputees: transplantation of the hand

The permanent loss of a hand or limb results in significant challenges. A number of options are available to individuals who must deal with this loss, including reconstructive surgery using a person's own tissue to repair the damage or the use of prosthetic devices. We present an update on the most recent addition to the list of options, namely, composite tissue allotransplantation (CTA). In this procedure, tissue to repair the loss is taken from deceased donors who are giving hearts, kidneys, and tissue for transplantation. We report on the world's longest follow-up of CTA of the hand, as well as four other American hand transplant recipients. In very select patient populations, we propose that transplantation is now a clinical option for amputees.