why can’t limbs be transplanted to the needy just like heart, eyes etc ?
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A few people have received hand transplants, so the ability to do that is still in its infancy. One of the same problems that is shared by every transplant patient is the risk of transplant rejection.
A few people have received hand transplants, so the ability to do that is still in its infancy. One of the same problems that is shared by every transplant patient is the risk of transplant rejection.
It can be done, but the surgery is very difficult. Reconnecting nerves is difficult, and even when reconnected, they may take months or years to work properly, if they ever do. Connecting tendons and muscles is also difficult and there is a risk that they don’t heal properly.
The biggest problem is that powerful medications which smash the immune system are required to prevent the transplant dying. The immune system sees the transplant as foreign and attacks it – a process called rejection.
The medications have severe side effects and massively increase the risk of cancer and other fatal diseases. This is a good trade for a vital organ transplant – if you don’t get the transplant you die quickly – with the transplant, you’ll likely live much longer, even though the medication may kill you in the long run.
It’s not quite such a good trade if it’s just a hand, especially if the hand only partially works.
It can be done, but the surgery is very difficult. Reconnecting nerves is difficult, and even when reconnected, they may take months or years to work properly, if they ever do. Connecting tendons and muscles is also difficult and there is a risk that they don’t heal properly.
The biggest problem is that powerful medications which smash the immune system are required to prevent the transplant dying. The immune system sees the transplant as foreign and attacks it – a process called rejection.
The medications have severe side effects and massively increase the risk of cancer and other fatal diseases. This is a good trade for a vital organ transplant – if you don’t get the transplant you die quickly – with the transplant, you’ll likely live much longer, even though the medication may kill you in the long run.
It’s not quite such a good trade if it’s just a hand, especially if the hand only partially works.
It has been done many times – hand transplants are a thing at some major academic centers – but they’ve also been associated with a very high rate of reversal for various reasons.
Not only are there the biological reasons for rejection, but the psychology behind having a new set of hands has led a significant number of patients to ask for their hands to be removed.
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1) There are thousands of nerves that need to be connected just to use an arm. That is a lot of work, and even if you took on such a massive feat, they still may never work properly.
2) Would you wanna be on immunosuppressants for the rest of your life just to have an arm or leg that you may never have full use of? It’s not likely to increase quality of life in most cases, and the costs & risks of the surgery are just not worth the gain.
It has been done many times – hand transplants are a thing at some major academic centers – but they’ve also been associated with a very high rate of reversal for various reasons.
Not only are there the biological reasons for rejection, but the psychology behind having a new set of hands has led a significant number of patients to ask for their hands to be removed.
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1) There are thousands of nerves that need to be connected just to use an arm. That is a lot of work, and even if you took on such a massive feat, they still may never work properly.
2) Would you wanna be on immunosuppressants for the rest of your life just to have an arm or leg that you may never have full use of? It’s not likely to increase quality of life in most cases, and the costs & risks of the surgery are just not worth the gain.
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