Hand transplant eligibility
People who are in overall good health and who have had one or both hands amputated at the elbow or below, or who have lost one or both hands due to trauma, may be eligible for a hand transplant.
Your transplant team will evaluate you to determine whether a hand transplant may be an option for you. The evaluation includes:
- A physical examination.
- Assessment of your nerve function.
- Blood tests and other tests.
- Tests to ensure that you don't have any other serious medical conditions, including infections, cancer, diabetes, chronic nerve conditions, and heart and blood vessel diseases (cardiovascular diseases).
- Evaluations to ensure that you're not using tobacco or drugs.
- A psychological evaluation.
Besides hand transplant, Mayo Clinic specialists also offer other treatment options for people who have had one or both hands amputated. Doctors individualize the treatment to each person's needs. These options can include reconstructive surgery or advanced prosthetic options.
As you consider having a hand transplant, your treatment team will explain to you what to expect before, during and after your hand transplant. After your transplant, you'll need to be prepared to have regular follow-up care with your transplant doctors, surgeons and hand therapists for several months after your hand transplant. You'll also need to take medications to prevent rejection of your transplanted hand (immunosuppressive medications) for life. These medications may cause serious side effects.
If your doctors and transplant team determine that you're eligible for a hand transplant, your treatment team will explain the benefits and risks of a transplant. Your transplant coordinator and other members of your team will provide you and your family with education about the hand transplant process.
Research in pretransplant screening
Mayo Clinic doctors trained in mental health conditions (psychologists and psychiatrists) study how to most effectively screen people prior to a hand transplant for mental (psychological) factors.
A psychosocial assessment, an aspect of a transplant evaluation, can help doctors determine if you're an appropriate candidate for a transplant. A psychosocial assessment evaluates your support system, coping skills, ability to manage hand therapy and medications, and other issues.
Research includes a trial studying a pre-screening psychosocial assessment for hand transplant. Researchers study questionnaires completed by hand transplant candidates before and after a hand transplant and questionnaires completed by candidates who were ineligible for a transplant. Questions assess psychosocial characteristics and issues related to hand transplant. Doctors study the questionnaire and other assessment tools to evaluate which questions and what information is most important in a psychosocial assessment.
Doctors also study psychosocial characteristics to understand which characteristics may help people have a successful hand transplant and an improved quality of life. People with a good support system, coping skills, communication skills, ability to manage medications and other skills may be appropriate candidates for hand transplant.
Jan. 17, 2024