GOT AN ARM TRANSPLANT

GOT AN ARM TRANSPLANT

In September 2016, when she was just 18 years old, Shreya Siddanagowda suffered a serious traffic accident while travelling in a bus. Although he survived, the medical care took too long to come and, as a result, he had to amputate both arms, just above the elbow.

Moments after the accident, Shreya visited Amrita Hospital in Kochi city to enroll in the arm transplant program. Fortunately for her, a matching donor appeared in a short while.

Sachin — a 20-year-old — had been declared brain dead following an accident in his vehicle. Her parents agreed to donate their organs. However, her arms were visibly different from Shreya’s: larger, darker-skinned, and abundant hair. The physical differences were evident, and doctors warned that the risk of rejection was very high.

On August 9, 2017, a team of 20 surgeons and 16 anesthesiologists worked for 13 straight hours in an unprecedented operation. It was the first double elbow arm transplant in all of Asia, and also the first intergender surgery — from a man to a woman — recorded on the continent.

Despite the complexity of the procedure and the risks of rejection, the intervention was a success. The first few weeks were critical: he went through a long process of physiotherapy and intensive rehabilitation to regain mobility. Slowly, he began to move his fingers, then his wrists and finally his arms.

Months later, doctors noticed something completely unexpected. The skin tone of the new limbs began to lighten, the male hair reduced, and the hands began to take on a more feminine and delicate appearance. Experts believe the phenomenon could be explained by Shreya's blood flow, hormones and genetics, which would have gradually modified donor tissues. The process, described by doctors as a “biological adaptation,” continues to be studied.

Today, you can write, feed, comb, and carry out your everyday activities unassisted.