The loss of a hand or upper limb is a life changing event. Until recently, the only options to restore function were artificial orthotic devices or prostheses.
The world’s first hand transplant was performed in France in 1998, since then, over 150 hand or upper limb transplants have been undertaken around the world. Leeds Teaching Hospitals is the only hospital in the UK to offer this service and has been doing so since 2012.
Hand transplantation has developed into a realistic alternative for a select population of patients and offers an opportunity to once again have hands that look natural and function beyond anything achievable by a prosthesis.
The information on this page aims to answer any questions around this and if you would like further information, please contact us.
This video shows the story of Chris King who had a double hand transplant.
Patient Story: Chris King – Double Hand Transplant
Hi, my name’s Chris King. I lost my hands on the 3rd of April, 2013, and I was rushed to Sheffield Trauma Unit where they operated on the fingers that were crushed. I had another operation on the 15th, the Friday of the same week, where they cut back more because the first operation hadn’t gone quite as well as they’d hoped.
It was pretty difficult because I had been an able-bodied person, and then I suddenly became disabled, which made me realize I was going to be disabled for the rest of my life. Later on, I was asked if I would be prepared to see Professor Simon Kay at Leeds, and I said yes straight away.
I had the operation done on the 16th of July, 2016, and I’m very glad to say it was a success. I can hold a pen, and I’ve written a letter to Professor Simon Kay thanking him and the team. I also wrote in my first Christmas card, which was very nice. It’s wonderful to be able to open Christmas presents properly without something between a card and a rope. It may seem simple, but it meant a lot to me.
As I say, I’m living the dream—and the dream is donor hands, which are absolutely perfect. The skin tone is perfect, the scars don’t look too bad now, and the function is there. I can hold a cup of tea, I can make a cup of tea, and I can carry certain weight—though not too much at the moment.I even learned to mow my grass with my self-propelled mower, which was quite an experience because gardening was my first love. When I finished work, I’d wind down in the garden, and then a man would come out covered in PR2, and I’d be out until about eight o’clock in the garden. I couldn’t stop doing it.
When I lost my hands, when I just had the thumbs, I used to hide them behind this old thing, and now I’m just open with it. I even shake people’s hands. My nephew comes every night to see us, and every night I shake his hand.The care of the NHS has been outstanding. I’ve been told all the right information, and they’ve never held anything back from me. If there is a problem, they sort it out when I come in for an appointment. The care and the sense of safety have always been there—they really have. And I’ve got a smile on my face, which is what really counts to me. All of my confidence, it’s all come from her