Hand Transplantation: Current concepts and management algorithm

Introduction: Hand transplantation was first reported in 1964, and is currently one of the challenges that the 21 st century poses to Medicine. Several related studies and advances have been achieved, thus allowing to explore new alternatives for patient management. Many reference centers have performed their own analyzes based on their experience, which has led to increase the viability of this type of transplant. Objective: This review seeks to provide an overview of hand transplantation and to propose a management algorithm. Materials and methods: Several criteria must be met to select candidates, including clinical, paraclinical and psychosocial assessment performed by a multidisciplinary team. Immunosuppression seeks to avoid rejection, while immunosuppressants must have appropriate serum levels to reduce adverse effects. Classical and atypical acute rejection cases have been reported, where the skin is the main target tissue. Chronic rejection cases are related to the blood vessels that become affected. Monitoring is performed using several tests, considering skin biopsy as the gold standard. Results: Drug therapy complications derive from drug toxicity, which are manifested as metabolic disorders, development of opportunistic infections and neoplasms. Rehabilitation and social aspects, such as patient satisfaction, should be evaluated during recovery to ensure adherence to immunosuppressive therapy. In 2011, the international registry of hand and composite tissue transplantation reported 39 cases of upper limb transplantation with multiple results. All this proves that to achieve optimal and viable results, a multidisciplinary team must conduct proper follow-up, and that the patient should have a support and motivation network, and comply with pharmacological management. Conclusion: Further research is expected to create strategies to develop tolerance and, thus, reduce management by immunosuppression.