Mathes DW, Schlenker R, Ploplys E, et al. A Survey of North American Hand Surgeons on their Current Attitudes Toward Hand Transplantation. J Hand Surg Am 2009;34:808–814.
Shores JT, Javed AA, Brandacher G, Lee WP. The Misuse of the Terminology "Standard of Care" Hampers Innovations in Surgery. Ann Surg. 2014;260(6):973-4.
Salminger S, Roche A, Sturma A, et al. Hand Transplantation versus Hand Prosthetics: pros and cons. Current Surgery Reports. 2016;4(2):8.
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Singh M, Sisk G, Carty M, et al. Functional Outcomes after Bilateral Hand Transplantation: A 3.5-Year Comprehensive Follow-up. Plast Reconstr Surg 2016;137(1):185-189.
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Home > Hand/Arm Transplant > Status
Status
Surgically, hand/arm transplantation is no longer in the experimental phase. Many hand/arm transplant surgeons and hand surgeons¹ consider hand/arm transplantation to be an acceptable treatment for certain types of limb loss.²
Data show that the surgical procedure for hand/arm transplantation works, in terms of gains in physical function and sensation in the hand/arm.³⁻⁶
In order for hand/arm transplantation to become more widely offered by clinicians, studies need to show that recipients’ hand/arm transplants are successful and safe. Then, the public, physicians, insurers, regulators, and the government must agree that this treatment meets certain milestones, such as improving long-term functional outcomes and quality of life.⁷ From an insurance and regulatory perspective, hand/arm transplantation is still experimental.