A hand transplant is a treatment option for people who have lost one or both hands for any reason. This could be following road traffic accidents, industrial accidents, electric shocks, burns, infections, sepsis, etc. A hand transplant is the only option which offers hope for upper limb amputees. Prosthesis (artificial hands) are not well accepted by these amputees, and they often find it to be useless.
A brain-dead donor can donate his hands, which can be attached to a suitable recipient, after appropriate cross-matching. Hand transplant surgeries are technically challenging and need a large team skilled with microsurgical expertise. A hand transplant is the only viable option for these amputees, which can help them regain useful hand function to live an independent life.
Hand transplants are not lifesaving, but they are life-enhancing. They can make a drastic improvement in the quality of life of the recipient. Hence, they are essential.
However, all patients undergoing hand transplants must be on lifelong immunosuppression after the transplant. So, the decision depends on the suitability of the recipient and must be very cautious and careful.
The first ever hand transplant was performed in 1964, in Ecuador. The surgery failed as the understanding of the immunosuppressive medications was very primitive at that time. Following this, hand transplants were performed in Lyon, France (1998) and Louisville, USA (1999). These surgeries were successful and they helped in the development of hand transplant programmes across the world.
In India, the first successful hand transplant was performed at Amrita Institute of Medical Sciences, Kochi in 2015. Following this, several centers in India have performed hand transplants successfully.
Today, India has surpassed all other countries in the world by performing the maximum number of hand transplants. To date in October 2023, 54 hands have been transplanted in India in 29 recipients. The active Hand Transplant centers in India are:
Amrita Institute of Medical Sciences, Kochi
Global Hospitals, Parel, Mumbai
JIPMER, Puducherry
KEM Hospital, Mumbai
Stanley Hospital, Chennai
Global Hospital, Chennai
Any unilateral or bilateral amputee could be a potential recipient of a hand transplant. He/she must be physically fit, socially stable, mentally strong and committed to undergoing lifelong treatment. He/she must undergo long-term physiotherapy and rehabilitation to achieve good hand function.
After detailed assessment and counselling by the transplant team, the recipient can be registered with the respective state government body. The waiting time for the transplant can be indefinite, depending on the local situation in each state.
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