• J M Dubernard, P Henry, H Parmentier, B Vallet, D Vial, L Badet, P Petruzzo, N Lefrançois, M Lanzetta, E Owen, and N Hakim.
• Service de chirurgie et de médecine de la transplantation, hôpital Edouard-Herriot, 5, place d'Arsonval, 69003 Lyon, France. jean-michel.dubernard@chu-lyon.fr
• Ann Chir. 2002 Jan 1; 127 (1): 19-25.

Aim Of The StudyThe previous results achieved in single hand transplantations confirmed the feasibility of this procedure and encouraged us to perform the first human double hand transplantation, which was performed in January 2000. In the present study we reported the results obtained eighteen months after transplantation.Patient And MethodsThe recipient was a 33-year old man suffering from a traumatic amputation of both hands in 1996. Surgery included procurement of the upper extremities from a 18-year old multiorgan cadaveric donor, preparation of the graft and recipient's stumps, transplantation of the hands, which included bone fixation, arterial and venous anastomoses, nerve suture, joining of tendons and muscles, and skin closure. Immunosuppressive protocol included tacrolimus, prednisone and mycophenolate mofetil. An intensive rehabilitation program was performed. Follow-up included immunological tests, skin biopsies, arteriography, bone scintigraphy, electromyography and brain functional magnetic resonance imaging.ResultsNo surgical complications, infectious complications and graft-versus-host-disease occurred. Two episodes of acute skin rejection were demonstrated and they were completely reversed increasing steroid dose. Nerve regeneration and cortical reorganization were shown. Sensorimotor recovery was encouraging and life quality improved.ConclusionThis double hand transplantation showed that conventional immunosuppressive protocol is effective and safe as well as that functional results are at least as good as those achieved in replanted upper extremities.

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