The Hand and Upper Extremity Transplant Program offers a new and unique service to patients at UHN. We perform upper limb transplants for suitable patients.
Our surgeons are internationally known for treating complex hand, wrist and arm injuries, and are trained and experienced in all areas of transplant surgery.
Transplantation may be recommended for patients who are in good health, but have not been able to adapt to prosthetics, after one or both upper limbs were amputated. Patients can expect some level of function from the new limb, and will be able to perform daily tasks.
Our program represents a partnership between UHN's
Hand Program,
Soham & Shaila Ajmera Family Transplant Centre and
Trillium Gift of Life Network.
How Our Program Works
Patients are thoroughly evaluated before being identified as a candidate for surgery.
Candidates will be evaluated by surgeons, transplant immunologists, internists, and psychiatrists.
The Vascularized Composite Allograft (VCA) committee will review the evaluations and determine if a patient may be suitable for surgery.
If the VCA committee and the patient both agree that a transplantation is a good choice, the patient will become eligible for a transplant, and Trillium Gift of Life Network will be notified. The patient will then be referred to a hand therapist, to develop a post-operative therapy plan.
Surgery is performed at
Toronto Western Hospital.
Following a transplant, a patient will take life-long immunosuppressant medication, to prevent his or her body from rejecting the new limb. The
transplant team at
Toronto General Hospital works with patients to manage their immunosuppressant medication. After discharge from the hospital, patients receive therapy at the Hand Therapy Clinic at the Toronto Western Hospital.
Learn more about our program.
Tests & Services
How to Prepare
Your first appointment can take 2 hours or more. Follow-up appointments usually take 15 to 30 minutes.
Learn more about
what you can expect when you have a clinic appointment.
