The world's first successful hand transplant for children

The first baby in the world to receive hand transplants can now write, eat and dress up after 18 months of surgery.

This surgery is considered a breakthrough in the field of implants, opening up opportunities for many children with disabilities to function normally without the aid of devices.

Boy Zion Harvey.

According to a report published in the journal The Lancet Child & Adolescent Health of the US on July 18, doctors at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia have for the first time announced the health of 10-year-old Zion Harvey . both hands were implanted in July 2015. Accordingly, 18 months after the surgery, Harvey was able to operate more independently and the motor function of the implanted hands was improving every day.

When Harvey was 2 years old, the doctors had surgery to remove her hands and feet from an infection. Harvey also had to transplant a kidney. Due to the need to take anti-kidney transplant medication, Harvey's hand transplant surgery must last 10 hours.

Before hand transplants, Harvey had to use special devices to support movement so wearing clothes, eating or doing personal hygiene was very limited for him. In July 2015, the good news came to Harvey, when the family of a dying boy donated Harvey's hands.

A few days after the surgery, Harvey discovered he could move his fingers and ligaments. The fact that the nerves show signs of activity means that Harvey can move with implanted muscles and feel the tactile organ for about six months after surgery - the same time he has Can eat and write by yourself. Eight months after surgery, Harvey could use drawing and coloring to paint.

Eight months after surgery, Harvey could use drawing and coloring to paint.(Source: bbc.com).

Within a year, Harvey could rotate the baseball bat with both hands and threw the first ball in August 2016. The scans show Harvey's brain receiving new hands, and is gradually developing motor and tactile control.

Although the first hand transplant was successful, the researchers said that more research was needed before widespread adoption of the technique.

The first successful adult hand transplant was performed in 1998.

1. Life after one year of the first baby is paired