UK First Hand Transplant

Mark Cahill developed gout in his toes and feet 20 years ago, and five years ago spread to his hand making him unable to move his fingers. Gout is a build of a uric acid with in the blood; it’s a waste product of the body and excreted through the kidneys in urine.  However if you create too much uric acid, or not enough is excreted in urine then it builds up as crystals around joints. These crystals can cause pain and inflammation around joint and also the crystals can build up and progressively cause problems to joints and bone.

The surgery took 8 hours, and carried out at Leeds Royal Infirmary. As well as being the first UK hand plant, it was the first time a limb was amputated to attack the donor limb. It was amputated where the watch would be worn at the end of the forearm, then the bone, blood vessels were all attached to the donor hand. The bones were connected by metal plates. 

Mark Cahill talks about the great success:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7VlrzUohMWo