Hand transplants offer new hope for double amputees
NCT ID NCT02800434
First seen Jun 26, 2026 · Last updated Jun 26, 2026
Summary
This pilot study tested hand and forearm transplants in 7 people who lost both hands. The goal was to see if the brain can adapt to the new hands and improve daily life. Participants had to be between 20 and 40 years old and have had their amputation 3 months to 3 years before the transplant. The study looked at brain changes using fMRI and tracked rejection and side effects.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- hand allograft (transplanted hands and forearms)
- What this could lead to
- If successful, this could show that hand transplants help restore some function and brain adaptation for double amputees who cannot use prostheses.
- What could go wrong
- This is a very small pilot study with only 7 participants, so results may not apply widely. There are risks of rejection and side effects from lifelong anti-rejection medication.
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As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
Contacts and locations
Locations
-
Service d'Urologie et Chirurgie de la Transplantion
Lyon, 69003, France
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