A man whose hands were rendered unusable by a rare disease has been given a new lease of life after what is believed to be the world’s first double-handed transplant for the disease.
Steven Gallagher, 48, was diagnosed with scleroderma, an autoimmune disease that causes scarring of the skin and internal organs, after developing an unusual rash about 13 years ago.
Areas such as the nose, mouth and hands were affected and, about seven years ago, her fingers began to curl up until they were in a fist position and she suffered a “horrible” pain.
When experts suggested the idea of a double-handed transplant, the father of three initially rejected the idea, but later decided to go ahead despite the risks.
He told the PA news agency: “My wife and I talked about it and came to an agreement to go. I could end up losing my hands anyway, so it was just a matter of doing them. I know this is going to happen. “
Mr Gallagher, of Dreghorn, North Ayrshire, had to undergo a psychological evaluation to make sure he was ready for the prospect of a transplant.
He then underwent the 12-hour operation in mid-December 2021 after finding a suitable donor.
The Leeds Teaching Hospital NHS Trust hand transplant team, which performed the surgery, said it was the first time in the world that a hand transplant was used to replace terminally affected hands with scleroderma.
Mr Gallagher said: “After the operation I woke up and it was quite surreal because before I had my hands and then when I woke up from the operation I still had hands, so I never lost a hand in my head. .
“These hands are amazing, everything has happened so fast. From the moment I woke up from the operation I was able to move them.”
He added: “It has given me a new life. I am still finding things difficult now, but things are getting better every week with the physiotherapist and occupational therapists, everything is slowly improving.
“The pain is the most important thing. The pain before the operation was horrible. I was so relieved of the pain that it was amazing, but now I don’t have any pain.”
Mr Gallagher spent about four weeks at Leeds General Infirmary after the operation and makes regular visits to Glasgow hospitals for physiotherapy and follow-up.
More than five months after the operation, his condition improves and, although he cannot do tasks that require great skill, such as making buttons, he can do things such as petting his dog, turn on the tap and fill a glass. of water.
The 48-year-old worked as a tile worker and was appointed deputy director of contracts, but had to stop work due to his condition.
He now hopes to return to some sort of job once his hands have improved enough, and is very grateful to the person and family of the donor who made the transplant possible.
The surgery featured a team of 30 professionals from many disciplines.
Professor Simon Kay of the Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust said: “Having a hand transplant is very different from a kidney or other organ transplant, as hands are something we see every day and use. in many ways.
“Therefore, we and our expert clinical psychologists evaluate and prepare patients to ensure that they will be able to cope psychologically with the permanent reminder of their transplant and the risk that the body may reject the transplanted hands.”