FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE	June 30, 2007
FOR MORE INFORMATION:	Barbara Mackovic Media Relations Senior Manager Jewish Hospital & St. Mary’s HealthCare (502) 587-4230

UNITED STATES HAND TRANSPLANT RECIPIENT
CONTINUES TO DOING WELL SIX MONTHS LATER

LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY (June 30, 2007) – David F. Savage, the third person in the United States to receive a human hand transplant, returned home to Bay City, Michigan three months ago after spending an extensive stay in Louisville following the innovative procedure. The 54-year-old man spent a little more than three months in Louisville for intensive hand therapy. Savage continues to do well.

The procedure was performed on November 29, 2006 at the Jewish Hospital Hand Care Center by surgeons from Kleinert, Kutz and University of Louisville. Warren C. Breidenbach, M.D., along with a team of hand surgeons was on hand to perform the procedure, including two Colombian hand surgeons – Rodrigo Moreno, M.D., and Luis Castellanos, M.D.

Dr. Moreno is from Bogota, Colombia and is an orthopedic surgeon with a specialty in hand and microsurgery. He received fellowship training at Kleinert Kutz Hand Care Center in 2000 and later joined as a staff physician in 2004. Dr. Castellanos is from Medellin, Colombia and is an orthopedic surgeon with a specialty in hand and microsurgery, as well. He is currently completing his Fellowship at Kleinert, Kutz and Associates. Both physicians participated in retrieval of the donor hand and the hand transplant surgery.

In May, Savage returned to work. Savage said, “I am really happy to be home with my family and friends and back to work with my fellow co-workers. His family includes his wife, Karen, along with four children and nine grandchildren.

“I continue to be extremely pleased with Dave’s progress,” said Warren Breidenbach, lead hand transplant surgeon with Kleinert, Kutz. “His function continues to improve and he has resumed a normal life in Michigan, where he continues his hand therapy sessions.” Dave recently began opening doors with his new hand Breidenbach added.

Savage performed tasks at a faster pace and with more accuracy then the other two hand transplant recipients performed in Louisville in 1999 and 2001. He will continue to work on his range of motion and strength in his arm and hand. Savage can use his hand to hold, drink and pour from a glass or cup. He can also use his new hand to assist with zipping his coat, tying his shoes, picking up small objects, and lifting and carrying a 25-pound crate with both hands.

Savage will take immunosuppressive (anti-rejection) medications for the life of his new hand. He has experienced a few mild rejection episodes within the first six months which have been managed with topical and oral medications. Since rejection episodes are to be expected, they usually do not require hospitalization and do not hinder function in the hand. He will be monitored by physicians in his hometown with biopsies and lab tests and will return to Louisville later for additional testing.

Savage, a Means Industries production supervisor, injured his dominant right hand more than 33 years ago in a work-related machine press accident.

A partnership of physicians and researchers at the Jewish Hospital Hand Care Center, the University of Louisville and Kleinert Kutz developed the composite tissue allotransplantation program. The pioneering hand transplant procedure has greatly impacted the future of transplantation and reconstructive surgery. The group of surgeons also performed the world’s first successful hand transplant in 1999 and the nation’s second in 2001.