Hand Transplant: What Are The Risks Involved?

Doctors have to carefully weigh up the risks and benefits of any treatment. It can be a tricky judgment.

And not all surgeons believe that the Leeds team was right to cut off Mark Cahill's hand and transplant a new one from a dead donor.

Mr Cahill couldn't feel or move his right hand because of complications from gout.

He says his quality of life was suffering - he couldn't tie his shoelaces, nor play with his grandson in the way he wanted.

So one can understand why he believes his new hand will transform his life.

But the transplant comes with significant risks.

Mr Cahill will need to take anti-rejection drugs for the rest of his life and, because of their effect on the immune system, he is more likely to develop cancer and other infections.

And surgeons can't guarantee that Mr Cahill will get useful movement in his hand. That will depend on whether the nerves join properly to allow signals from his brain to reach his fingers.

Clint Hallam, who had a hand transplant in 1998, had it removed two years later, complaining that it was like a dead man's hand, with no feeling in it.

And fertility pioneer Lord Winston, who was involved in a hand transplant early in his surgical career, has warned the operation could lead to "extra inconvenience and complications".

It took many attempts to perfect heart transplantation.

But, of course, that's a life-saving procedure - and well worth the risks.

A hand transplant is only life-enhancing - if it works.

Mr Cahill had a fully-functioning left hand. One can only hope the donor hand lives up to his high hopes.