MSNBC shares a huge advancement for amputees.
Big news in the world of amputation recoveries! Surgeons in Spain have recently performed the first double leg transplant. Needless to say, this advancement can improve the quality of life for leg amputees everywhere.
You may be wondering why this surgery hasn’t been done in the past. In the interview with MSNBC, Dr. David Levi shares the surgery is not necessary for patient survival. He explains there is no reason to put the patient in a potentially life-threatening situation when there are awesome prosthetics out there. Therefore, surgeons would not have considered the transplant unless the benefits were greater than the risks.
Arm transplants have been done in the past and surgeons can use those outcomes as a guideline for what to expect. However, there are some major differences that can greatly affect the recovery process. Not only are the nerves in legs longer, but the patient will have to learn how to put all of his/her body weight onto these new legs. Both factors may cause the recovery time to be much longer than transplants in the past.
However, researchers remain optimistic and believe, if rehabilitation goes as planned, the patient will be able to walk within the next year. This is a story we’ll be sure to follow!
Would those of you who have experienced a double leg amputation consider this surgery?
Check out this video of the first double arm transplant patient.
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