America
Zion Harvey, 8, first child to receive double hand transplant
New York, July 29
In the world's first
successful double hand transplant on a child, US doctors have
transplanted donor hands and forearms onto eight-year-old Zion Harvey
whose own hands were amputated several years ago.
He had
undergone amputation of his hands and feet and a kidney transplant
following a serious infection, a statement from The Children's Hospital
of Philadelphia (CHOP) stated.
A happy and outgoing child, Zion cannot wait to throw a football with his new hands.
He
has adapted well to life without hands, learning to eat, write and even
play video games. He figured out ways to perform most of the activities
other kids his age can do. Zion received prosthetics for his feet and
is able to walk, run and jump with complete independence.
Following
his latest surgery performed earlier this month and after his upcoming
rehabilitation, it is expected that Zion will finally get his wish to
throw a football along with a myriad of other accomplishments to come.
Led
by L Scott Levin, director of the hand transplantation program at CHOP,
a 40-member multidisciplinary team participated in the 10-hour surgical
transplantation.
"This surgery was the result of years of
training, followed by months of planning and preparation by a remarkable
team," said Levin.
"The success of first bilateral hand
transplant on an adult, performed in 2011, gave us a foundation to adapt
the intricate techniques and coordinated plans required to perform this
type of complex procedure on a child,†Levin noted.
Double hand transplantation is a complex procedure involving many surgical and non-surgical components.
During
the surgery, the hands and forearms from the donor were attached by
connecting bone, blood vessels, nerves, muscles, tendons and skin.
"We
have learned the importance of closely monitoring and managing the
activity of the immune system through years of experience, and are
hopeful that Zion will enjoy excellent long-term allograft function and a
normal life," Abraham Shaked, professor of surgery and director, Penn
Transplant Institute, said.