Hand Transplant - chronology

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Hand Transplant Chronology

November 29, 2006	David F. Savage, a 54-year-old Bay City, Michigan resident, joined a group of select men to become the nation’s third hand transplant recipient on Nov. 29, 2006. A special news conference was held today (Nov. 30) at 11 a.m. (EST), to announce the completion of another landmark hand transplant surgery. The procedure, which began at approximately 3:10 p.m. (EST) on Wednesday, Nov. 29, lasted 15 hours and involved a 34-member hand surgical team and a five-member anesthesiology team.
July 12, 2006	The nation's fourth hand transplant recipient, continues to show no signs of rejection, just one month following the innovative procedure. The medical team representing the University of Louisville, Kleinert, Kutz & Associates and Jewish Hospital have performed weekly biopsies on Armstrong’s transplanted hand. According to lead transplant surgeon Kadiyala Ravindra, M.D., “Dave’s biopsies have looked great showing no signs of rejection and the swelling of his new hand has gone down to normal size. The biopsy procedure consists of removing a very small piece of tissue from the back of the transplanted hand and the forearm. The Jewish Hospital pathology laboratory then analyzes the biopsy. Nerve endings have not fully matured, so a local anesthetic is still not necessary. “Dave is doing great and is on the lowest level of drugs than any of our four hand transplant recipients,” added Ravindra. The team of physicians, continue to look for ways to reduce the risk of taking the immunosuppressive drugs to lower the risk of the experimental procedure.
February 14, 2005	Matt Scott, the world’s first successful hand transplant recipient underwent evaluations on February 10-11 for his six-year check up with a number of physicians including lead hand surgeon Warren C. Breidenbach, M.D., Kleinert Kutz Hand Care Center, and lead transplant surgeon Frederick R. Bentley, M.D., University of Louisville. Dr. Breidenbach said Scott has shown “a big improvement in his hand function and a stronger thumb.” Scott attributes this to using it everyday. He can use his transplanted hand for everyday living activities including throwing and catching a ball, opening doors, turning doorknobs, drinking from a glass, dialing a cell phone, writing his name and tying his shoes. Also, his pinch and strength are better along with improvement in sensation. Scott has hot and cold sensation in his hand along with being able to determine rough or smooth and sharp or blunt textures. A biopsy was also performed by Dr. Bentley, which showed no signs of rejection.
January 23, 2004	Matt Scott, the world's first successful hand transplant recipient, reached a major milestone in January 2004 when he celebrated the five-year anniversary of undergoing the innovative transplant procedure. Scott was in Louisville for his yearly check-up January 22-23. Scott and his physicians reported improved motion of the thumb and being able to pinch together the tip of his thumb and front of his index finger. "He has exceeded our expectations," said lead hand surgeon Warren C. Breidenbach, M.D., Kleinert Kutz Hand Care Center. Breidenbach also reported that tests showed a slight improvement in Scott's ability to distinguish the sensation caused by two separate points touching a finger. Transplant surgeon Frederick R. Bentley, M.D., University of Louisville, said "The big surprise to me is that he really has no significant complications and only minimal side effects." Bentley manages Scott's immunosuppressive drug therapy. Scott's hand transplant is one of the 24 hands transplanted on 18 patients around the world including France, Brussels, Italy, Austria and China.
February 14, 2003	Matthew Scott, the world's first successful hand transplant recipient, and Jerry Fisher, the nation's second recipient celebrated their four and two year anniversaries, respectively, with a trip to Jewish Hospital for their yearly check-ups. Appearing confident and happy, the two men answered media questions at a Feb. 14 press conference. “I feel fantastic,” said Scott. “I am four years out from the surgery and still gaining function.” He is able to perform everyday living activities including dialing a telephone, tying his shoes and opening doors along with picking up small fine objects. Scott enjoys plays catch with his sons Jeremy and Ian and holding his wife, Dawn’s, hand. “With function, I shoot for the moon. I have much better speed in doing things with two hands and can catch things before they fall,” said Fisher. He uses his transplanted hand for daily use and function such as turning pages of a newspaper, opening cabinet doors and is able to carry 20 pounds with his transplanted hand. Fisher is married and has three boys -- wife, Sonya and sons, David, Zachary, and Nicholas.
April 3, 2002	Matthew Scott, the world's first successful hand transplant underwent a minor surgical procedure for scar revision of the arm today. The surgery was performed by lead hand transplant surgeon Warren C. Breidenbach, M.D., Kleinert, Kutz and Associates Hand Care Center, PLLC in the new Jewish Hospital Hand Care Center.
February 22, 2002	Matthew Scott, the world's first successful hand transplant recipient, and Jerry Fisher, the nation's second recipient, today provided a glimpse of how the hand transplant procedure has changed their lives. Appearing confident and happy, the two men answered media questions at a Jewish Hospital press briefing following their yearly check-ups. In discussing Scott and Fisher's progress, Dr. Warren Breidenbach said, "both have done excellent and have achieved great results. I am impressed with the speed of how Matt can use his hand in grasping and turning objects. According to Dr. Granger, "Both patients received biopsies today and while results are not yet back, their hands show no visual sign of rejection and look very nice. Matt has only had three rejection episodes in the first six months, which were expected. He has not had a rejection episode for the past 30 months, which is excellent. Jerry continues to have mild rejection episodes, but at the same time continues to improve his function. The rejection is controlled by medication."
November 13, 2001	The nation's second recipient of a hand transplant, Gerald Fisher, returned to Jewish Hospital in Louisville for a routine nine-month check up by his physicians at Kleinert, Kutz and Associates Hand Care Center and University of Louisville. Fisher has sensation in the fingertips which means regrowth of nerve fibers has taken place. When tapped on the fingertips, he has a tingling sensation, which is a sign of recovery. He also has sensation in the palm and back of his hand. Fisher's range of motion is about the same as it was at three months, but his flexion or bending of all four fingers has improved. His forearm and wrist motions have also improved which makes picking up larger objects easier. Fisher has continued to have frequent episodes of mild rejection, which are controlled by topical medication. The swelling of the hand and arm has been resolved even though his is taking less medication.
May 17, 2001	Jerry Fisher, the second person in the United States to receive a hand transplant, returned home to Jackson, Michigan. Fisher was in Louisville for the past three months for intensive hand therapy following his experimental hand transplant performed February 16-17 at Jewish Hospital by surgeons from Kleinert, Kutz and Associates Hand Care Center, PLLC, and University of Louisville. Surgeons are extremely pleased with his progress. Fisher’s function continues to improve, he has great pinch and grip strength, and is ahead of the schedule his doctors anticipated. He will return to work and resume a normal life while continuing his hand therapy sessions at the University of Michigan two-days-a-week. Fisher has the ability to perform tasks at a faster pace and with more accuracy after three months of hand therapy in Louisville. He can toss a ball, demonstrate good wrist motion to use a paddleball, tie and untie his shoes, drink from a glass, lift and carry a 35-pound crate and hold his seven month old son.
April 21, 2001	Matthew Scott and Jerry Fisher served as official "Thundernators" at the Kentucky Derby Festival pyrotechnic show "Thunder Over Louisville" by pushing the yellow "fire" buttons that triggered the detonation of the largest fireworks event in the U.S.. Both Scott and Fisher’s injuries were caused by firework accidents. They accepted the honor to reinforce the message that fireworks should be left to the professionals.
April 19, 2001	Matthew Scott and Jerry Fisher, the first and second individuals in the United States to receive a hand transplant met for the first time face to face at Jewish Hospital in a long anticipated meeting. The two men clasped their new left hands together in a firm handshake within minutes upon meeting. Both men expressed sincere appreciation to the other for the mutual support that they have offered each other since Jerry received his transplanted hand in February 2001. Matt became the first recipient in January 1999.
February 17, 2001	Jerry Fisher, a 36-year-old Jackson, Mich., resident, became the nation's second hand transplant recipient following a 13-hour procedure, February 16-17 at Jewish Hospital. The surgical team was led by Warren C. Breidenbach, III, M.D., Kleinert, Kutz and Associates and assistant clinical professor of surgery at the University of Louisville. Darla K. Granger, M.D., assistant professor of surgery at the University of Louisville, is managing the immunosuppressive therapy for Fisher.
January 26, 2001	The nation's first successful hand transplant recipient, Matthew Scott, "graduated with flying colors," said hand surgeon, Warren C. Breidenbach, III, M.D., following his two-year check-up. Scott underwent a series of evaluations and tests January 25-26 at Jewish Hospital and Kleinert, Kutz and Associates Hand Care Center marking the two-year anniversary of the landmark procedure. He continues to have therapy twice a week to gain additional function in his new left hand. Matt's biospy showed no signs of rejection and he has not had a rejection episode in the past 17 months. "During Matt's exam yesterday, he demonstrated increased sensitivity and increased motor function," explained Dr. Breidenbach. "We couldn't be more pleased with Matt's function and sensory results. It may be five years or more before we know the full extent of Matt's function.
May 18-19, 2000	Physicians and researchers from around the globe convened at Jewish Hospital during the Second International Symposium on Composite Tissue Allotransplantation (CTA multiple tissue transplant), May 18-19. CTA discussions during the symposium included the hand, larynx, bone, muscle, nerve, tendon, vein and skin. Over 130 attended the two-day symposium sponsored by Jewish Hospital, University of Louisville, and Kleinert, Kutz and Associates Hand Care Center, PLLC. Highlights of the symposium included presentations by the three surgeons responsible for five of the six hand transplants performed around the world: Warren C. Breidenbach, III, M.D., Kleinert, Kutz and Associates Hand Care Center, PLLC, who performed the United States' first hand transplant; Professor Jean-Michel Dubernard, Hopital Edouard Herriot, Lyon, France, who performed the world's first single and double hand transplants; and Guoxian Pei, M.D., Ph.D., The First Military Medical University, Guangzhou, People's Republic of China, who performed China's first hand transplants. The symposium also included presentations by the world's first larynx transplant recipient, Timothy Heidler, and the nation's first hand transplant recipient, Matthew Scott. Other CTA presentations/discussions included Marshall Strome, M.D., Cleveland Clinic, who performed the world's first larynx transplant; Gunther O. Hofmann, M.D., Ph.D., Munich, Germany, who performed several knee/femur transplants; and J. C. Guimbertau, M.D., France, who performed tendon allotransplantation. Ethical considerations in allotransplantation were also presented. Other integral parts of the symposium explored clinical research in immunology therapies, rejection, chimerism, tolerance, new drugs and various research animal models.
January 25, 2000	The one-year anniversary of the nation's first hand transplant, Matthew Scott was celebrated at the Jewish Hospital Rudd Heart & Lung center on January 25. Scott underwent a check-up and evaluations at Jewish Hospital and Kleinert, Kutz and Associates Hand Care Center. Results from tests, comments from all professionals involved, and the patient himself, confirmed that the outcome is most successful. Scott is able to open doors, hold a glass, tie his shoes, write his name and use his new left hand for everyday living activities. Warren C. Breidenbach, III, MD, lead hand transplant surgeon, said he does not believe Scott will need additonal surgery, but will evaluated again in six months. A biopsy showed no signs of rejection. Scott continues therapy at Heartland Rehabilitation, Cherry Hill, NJ, three days a week.
July 30-31, 1999	Matt Scott returned to Louisville for a six-month check up following the hand transplant surgery. Laboratory tests along with a biopsy were performed. Scott was also evaluated by a team of surgeons from Kleinert, Kutz and Associates Hand Care Center. The possibility of future surgery to gain more function and mobility was discussed by a team.
June 11, 1999	A press briefing was held with hand surgeon Warren Breidenbach III, MD, Dr. Elliot Ames and therapist Anne Hodges discussing the hot and cold sensation Matthew Scott felt in the transplanted hand.
June 1, 1999	One month after returning to Absecon, New Jersey, Matthew Scott the nation's first hand transplant patient returned to work.
April 28, 1999	Hand transplant recipient Matthew Scott returned home and resumed family life after a three- month stay in Louisville, Kentucky.
April 12, 1999	Matthew Scott threw the ceremonial first pitch at the Philadelphia Phillies opening day game with his new left hand.
January 25, 1999	Hand Transplant Surgery, Matthew Scott, Left Hand
September, 1998	Proceedings of the International Symposium on Composite Tissue Allotransplantation held November 19-20, 1997 in Louisville, Kentucky published in Transplantation Proceedings September Issue, Vol 30, No. 6. Guest Editors, John H. Barker, Jon Jones, and Warren C. Breidenbach.
July, 1998	Ethics paper prepared for submission to national scientific journal publication. "CSA Stimulates Prolieferation of Vascular Smooth Muscle Cells (VSMC) and Enhances Monocyte (MN) Adhesion to VSMC" presented by Jon Jones at the 17th World Congress of the Transplant Society, Montreal, Canada. "Radio Forearm Osteomyocutanious Flap As A CTA Model in Swine" presented by Jon Jones at the international Society for Experimental Microsurgery Meeting, London, Ontario, Canada. Media debriefing highlighting the research involved for the world's first human hand transplant presented by Drs. Gordon Tobin, John Barker, Jon Jones, and Warren Breidenbach.
June, 1998	Protocol for human hand transplant is approved by the University of Louisville Human Studies Committee and Jewish Hospital Institutional Review Board.
May, 1998	"Large Animal Model" study presented at the American Society for Transplant Surgeons Meeting in Chicago, IL. "Composite Tissue Allotransplantation - Concept on Hand Transplants" is the keynote presentation at the International Federation for Societies for Surgery of the Hand Congress, Vancouver, Canada. Speakers include: Warren Breidenbach and Jon Jones. Vancouver Sun front page article featuring research efforts on hand transplantation and the expectation that it could occur within the year in the United States. BBC Radio - Broadcast Dr. Breidenbach interview around the world. Canadian Broadcast - National Public Radio interviewed Dr. Breidenbach regarding the hand transplant. It was transmitted to Canada and select United States cities. www.handtransplant.com "live" on the Internet.
January - May, 1998	Protocol for human transplant is established and includes informed consent, patient selection and criteria, operative procedure, postoperative monitoring, rehab, and immunosuppression.
November, 1997	Courier-Journal front page article on the upcomming International Symposium on Composite Tissue Allotransplantation exploring the feasibility of hand transplantation. International Symposium on Composite Tissue Allotransplantation hosted by the Jewish Hospital Foundation is held with 17 experts in the field of immunology, transplantation surgery, plastic and reconstructive surgery and medical ethics. Courier-Journal article reports hand transplants are seen as possible and ethical and experts encourage surgeons to find suitable patient. WHAS-TV and WAVE-TV featured interviews on the success of the Symposium research efforts on hand transplantation. Research focuses on large animal study with composite tissue allotransplantation with and without immunosuppression.
July, 1997	Courier-Journal front page article focuses on clinical hand transplant research efforts.
January, 1997	Research begins on the following projects: Effect of Cryopreservation on tissue preservation and allogenicity Epidemiologic study on hand transplantation - risk/benefit analysis Local perfusion
March, 1996	Collaborative Research Partnership established which includes the University of Louisville Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Kleinert, Kutz and Associates and Jewish Hospital to coordinate research projects and combine resources.

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