Fifth Hand Transplantation in Louisville
Fifth Hand Transplantation in Louisville
On November 24, 2008, the fifth hand transplantation was performed in Louisville.
A team of surgeons from Kleinert, Kutz and Associates and the Christine M Kleinert Institute for Hand and Microsurgery along with staff at the Jewish Hospital Hand Care Center, University of Louisville and Jewish Hospital Transplant Center transplanted a 43 year-old man from Massena, New York with a new right hand. He had lost his hand in a foundry accident two years ago.
This case used the first non-local donor done in Louisville, and was also the shortest time to date, with an OR time of approximately 9 hours. The patient was treated with Campath 1H induction regimen, and started on immediate Prograf monotherapy. At two weeks post transplant, the patient is doing extremely well. His biopsies have been grade 0 or grade 1, with minimal swelling. He was discharged to outpatient care on day 6, and continues to receive 3 hours of physical therapy a day. His functional progress to date is excellent and the patient is very pleased with his graft.
