A Report of 15 Hand Allotransplantations in 12 Patients and Their Outcomes in China

Abstract

Long-term survival of hand transplantation with appropriate immunosuppression is feasible, and satisfactory functional results have been achieved. Careful pretransplant psychologic and social evaluation, consideration of the financial burden of long-term immunosuppressive medications, and close multispecialty collaboration is critical for good outcomes. Limb rejection was related with immunosuppression use. Further study and experience is required before hand allotransplantation can become a generally recommended treatment.

A Methodology for Determining Standard of Care Status for a New Surgical Procedure

“…21,25,26 There is a record of success that is far beyond what was anticipated. [2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16] Hand transplant function is superior to hook or myoelectric prosthesis. 27 Hand transplant survival is superior to solid organ transplantation.…”

Vascularized Composite Allotransplant in the Realm of Regenerative Plastic Surgery

“…22 The Chinese experience is not included in the IRHCTT report but was later reported. 36 In total, 15 transplants were performed in 12 patients from September 1999 to May 2008. The mean age of the recipients was similar to the IRHCTT cohort, 34 years (range, 19-52 years).…”

The First Hand Allotransplantation in Taiwan

“…10 This concern was shown in the first patient, whose hand had to be removed at 27 months posttransplantation and in several Chinese patients with unsuccessful outcomes because of noncompliance to immunosuppressive therapy, as well compounding poor socioeconomic conditions in the latter cases. 8,[11][12][13] Although some noncompliance and failed cases have been described, most hand transplants achieve positive results, which encouraged us to perform the first hand transplantation in Taiwan. The aim of this report was to share our protocol for the first 9 months after surgery and to describe the management of rejection with topical and systemic immunosuppression.…”