Blog Article
Posted on May 2nd, 2011 in
Body Surgery, Plastic Surgeon, Reconstructive Surgery
Photo by Francine Orr, courtesy the Los Angeles Times
Surgeons are often regarded as giving a helping hand to reconstructive patients. For Emily, a 26-year-old Californian who recently underwent a hand transplant, according to the
Los Angeles Times, this could not be more true.
This process, in some ways is a much more advanced version of
hand surgery, which aims to correct hands and fingers that have suffered trauma or a birth defect. Following hand surgery, patients often experience not only increased mobility, but also improved aesthetic appearance, both of which can positively affect many aspects of their lives.
Though Emily is only expected to gain about 60% of the mobility of a normal hand, her spirits seem up near 100%.
“About a week after the accident, my mom said, ‘You can be the kind of person who says ‘Woe is me’ and gives up, or you can say, ‘This sucks, but I’m moving on.’ I chose that one,” Emily said of her attitude.
Unlike what one might expect, Emily’s new donor hand, which her physical therapists are working to get Emily to recognize as her own, is not attached with a circular scar around her wrist. Rather, it is attached using a scar that extends partway down her forearm and then back up to the wrist. Much like techniques that plastic surgeons use for
scar revision, this asymmetrical scar greatly improves mobility.
Despite being early in her journey toward gaining more everyday use of her hand, Emily is pushing forward, maintaining her drive.
“The minute you tell me I can’t do something, I do it,” Emily said.
