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Vascularized Composite Hand Allograft Procurement and Preparation for Distal and Proximal Forearm Allotransplantation: A Stepwise Approach
Published on: May 23, 2025
Why Quality-of-Life Data Collection and Use Should Be Standardized When Evaluating Candidates for Hand
Martin Kumnig1, Emma K Massey2, Lisa S Parker3
1A professor of clinical psychology in the Department of Medical Psychology at Innsbruck Medical University in Austria, where he is also head of the Center for Advanced Psychology in Plastic and Transplant Surgery.
Abstract:
This article argues for 3 mutually reinforcing interventions in the field of hand transplantation (HTx): (1) collection of qualitative data about hand transplant recipients' subjective quality of life (QoL) outcomes, (2) multicenter standardization of data collection, and (3) use of data to develop evidence-based, standardized protocols for HTx candidate evaluation and information disclosure. These interventions are needed to improve candidate evaluation and informed consent processes in HTx, wherein the highly personal nature of desired outcomes justifies holding a candidate's consent to a standard approaching authenticity rather than the usual minimal standard of being informed and voluntary.
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