18-to-60 years of age
Good general health
Amputation not due to birth defect or cancer
Amputation of limb at the wrist or forearm
No serious infections such as hepatitis B or C or HIV
Patients who meet the basic eligibility requirements and wish to be considered for the UCLA Hand Transplantation Program should contact for an initial evaluation.
Dr. Kodi Azari
Surgical Director of the Hand Transplantation Program
(310) 825-1745
The process of choosing appropriate candidates for hand transplantation is highly selective. Appropriate candidates will be motivated and committed not just to the surgery but also to a rigorous program of rehabilitation that will follow. Qualified patients will undergo an additional evaluation to determine if other conditions for participating in the study are met. This evaluation will include a medical history, physical examination and lab tests, X-ray tests, in addition to a psychological profile. In addition to medical and psychological considerations, appropriate candidates will be selected based on ethical criteria weighing the benefits of transplantation versus the need for lifelong immunosuppression.
After being accepted into the program, the patient will be placed on a waiting list until a suitable donor limb becomes available.
