Use of Video Clips to Assess the Outcomes of Bilateral Hand Transplantation

Given the initial success of hand transplantation, there has been increased interest in determining functional independence and activities of daily living after hand transplantation. However, the metrics and methodologies used to study these outcomes have not yet been standardized. The goal of this article was to assess the role of video clips in assessing the outcomes of bilateral hand transplantation. We have performed 3 bilateral hand transplantations at our institution. Video clips were taken at standardized time points on our index bilateral hand transplantation patient, and the patient sent multiple home-video clips demonstrating new aspects of function when these improvements have occurred. The index patient demonstrated functional independence and activity of daily living performance without assistance in video clips ranging from 9 months to 2.5 years posttransplantation. He completed the 9-hole peg test with his left hand at 9 months follow-up and with both the hands by 1.5 years. His own video clips demonstrated his ability to perform spontaneous tasks including lawn mowing, driving and swimming. In our experience, the video tools aid in assessing outcomes of hand transplantation and may be incorporated along with multiple objective scoring tests. They can also be used to generate additional standardized tests for functional assessment and may allow retrospective grading as new scoring systems are developed.