title: First Polish forearm transplantation - final report (outcome after 4 years).
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Hand transplantation (HTx) presents an exceptional reconstructive solution for hand amputees. Relatively few patients qualify for such an operation - generally healthy patients suffering from a serious disturbance of body integrity.
  
  
  METHODS
  We present a patient 48 months after unilateral transplantation of an allogenic forearm. Clinical course, laboratory results, function of the graft, and quality of life of the patient are analyzed. These findings are compared with those achieved by 2 other patients - recipients of allograft forearm transplanted on the same zone in Lyon 2002, and Louisville 2001. The patient suffered no post-transplantation infections, had 1 episode of rejection - I degrees . Except for mild diabetes, no disturbances of internal organs were observed. Total active motions of fingers (TAM) equaled 53% of fingers of unaffected hand. The functional evaluation by SF 36 is 53; by DASH - 92; Chen's score system rates our patient as II (good); CFSS score system - 84 points (excellent result). His functional result is similar to that achieved by 2 others mid-forearm recipients.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The upper limb transplant performed on a functionally unfavorable zone of the mid-forearm has greatly increased patient's quality of life.
authors.affiliation: Department of General Surgery, Subdepartment of Replantation of Limbs, St Jadwiga Hospital, Trzebnica, Poland. jerzy.jablecki@interia.pl
authors.forename: Jerzy
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Jablecki
authors.forename: Leszek
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Kaczmarzyk
authors.forename: Adam
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Domanasiewicz
authors.forename: Adam
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Chelmonski
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Boratynska
authors.forename: Dariusz
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Patrzalek
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000673:Amputation, Traumatic / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery; D001132:Arm / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000637:transplantation*; D005542:Forearm / Q000098:blood supply / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D005543:Forearm Injuries / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D007165:Immunosuppression Therapy / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D016377:Organ Transplantation / Q000379:methods*; D011044:Poland; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome