Hand transplantation is one of the ground-breaking innovations that the medical field has made possible via its tremendous advances. A hand transplant, also known as Vascularised Composite Allotransplantation (or VCA), involves replacing the hand entirely through surgery. Composite Tissue Allotransplantation (CTA) is another term occasionally used to describe this procedure. The two terms refer to structures within the hand that are connected after a transplant, such as blood arteries, nerves, cartilage, bone, tendon, skin, and muscle.

When a disease or injury causes serious structural and functional deficiencies, a hand transplant may be considered. A hand transplant involves the patient receiving one or two donor hands as well as a section of a deceased person's forearms. A transplanted hand requires rehabilitation care after surgery, just like any other hand injury with nerve involvement.

Before Hand Transplant Surgery

Before the surgery, extensive assessments are conducted to evaluate the patient's overall health, psychological readiness, and compatibility for transplantation. A person who is scheduled to have hand transplant surgery will start strengthening their upper extremities via rehabilitation treatment. A comprehensive evaluation involves physical examinations, imaging studies, blood tests, and consultations with various specialists to ensure the patient's suitability and readiness for the procedure.

To prepare the body for receiving the transplanted hand or hands, the patient will begin an immunosuppressive drug regimen. Clinic check-ins will be used to track their drug tolerance. Recipients are often encouraged to remain within several hours of the hospital where the transplant will be performed due to the duration and complexity of the hand transplant operation.

After the Procedure

After the procedure, the patient will stay in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) for a few days. Immunosuppressive medications are prescribed to prevent the body from rejecting the transplanted hand. Intensive physical and occupational therapy sessions are initiated after the second day to help the recipient regain strength, mobility, and functionality in the transplanted hand. The pain levels will also be continuously watched since excessive discomfort might be a symptom of rejection. Patients frequently need to wear a splint to safeguard the mechanics of the hand when it is at rest.