Second double hand transplant in Spain
November 22, 2007
The Hospital La Fe in Valencia City has carried out Spain’s second bilateral hand forearm transplant. The donor for the 29 year old patient was a teenager, aged just 15.
Surgeon Pedro Cavadas, who carried out the first transplant on 47 year old Alba at the end of last year – in a ten hour operation which was the first worldwide on a woman – said his latest patient prefers to remain anonymous. What is known, is that he is Spanish, and is not from Valencia.
In an operation which took place on 15th November, the arms of the donor were joined on the patient’s left arm up to the elbow, and on his right, up to the middle third of his forearm. He had been using myoelectric prostheses since an accident with a grenade which also cost him the sight in one eye.
Cavadas described his patient’s progress as ‘marvellous’ and said he could be discharged from hospital next week to start rehabilitation.