Hand/Arm Transplant Definition Status History Worldwide Performance Functional Outcomes Psychological Outcomes Patient Experiences Potential Benefits Limitations Unknowns Myths and Facts
Process Transplant Evaluation Process Who is Eligible Who Makes a Good Candidate Contacting a Transplant Center Meeting the Transplant Team After Evaluation What is Surgery Like
Risks Surgical and Medical Acute and Chronic Rejection Removing the Hand Anti-Rejection Medicine Pain and Discomfort Emotional and Social
Recovery Surgical Recovery Rehabilitation Process Lifestyle Changes Caregiver's Role
Decision-Making Optional Treatment Weigh All Options Mental Health Changes Social Support Commitments Financial Costs
Options Cosmetic Prostheses Body-Powered Prostheses Electric Prostheses Myoelectric Prostheses Switch and Pressure Sensors LUKE Arm Osseointegration No Prosthesis
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Home > Process > After Evaluation

 

After Evaluation

Waiting List

  • In order to get a hand/arm transplant, you must complete evaluation and be approved by your transplant center for transplantation. 

  • The transplant center will then register you on the Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network (OPTN) waiting list for hand/arm transplant.

  • The number of people on the waiting list for a hand/arm transplant is relatively small given the specialized nature of this treatment.

  • Wait times can vary.

 

Mr. White, with unilateral, below-elbow limb loss (6 years after amputation), talks about his experience waiting for a hand/arm transplant and the matching process.

 
 
 

Preparing for Surgery

 
 

Dr. Jaimie Shores, Hand/Arm Transplant Surgeon, describes the hand/arm donor matching process.

Mr. Lund, bilateral upper limb transplant recipient (5 years after transplantation), describes what it was like when he was notified of a potential hand transplant donor.

 
 

If a person gets through the evaluation process and is put on the wait list, it means the transplant team believes the person is capable of undergoing the hand/arm transplant procedure. However, it is still very important to prepare both mentally and physically, as the transplantation surgery will be quite strenuous. There will also be physically demanding tasks after the surgery, such as during the rehabilitation process.

Some preparations you should take include the following:

  • Ensuring that the transplant team has your updated contact information so they can reach you when the donated hand/arm becomes available.

  • Staying in close contact with the transplant team if you travel.

  • Staying healthy and maintaining physical fitness—the transplant surgery is a long surgery, and being physically fit will help your body undergo the surgery.

  • Obtaining vaccinations and viral tests as recommended—this helps maintain your eligibility for transplantation.

  • Arranging to have someone else take care of your cat or dog or other pets after the transplant—nips and scratches can lead to infection and rejection.

 

Click Below for More Videos

Videos of Hand/Arm Transplant Recipients and People with Limb Loss

Mr. White, with unilateral, below-elbow limb loss (6 years after amputation) talks about annual tests for hand/arm transplant candidates.