Man has double hand transplant in ‘world first’ for scleroderma patient

Steven Gallagher, whose hands were left unusable by scleroderma, has been given a new lease of life after what is believed to be the world’s first double hand transplant for the condition.The 48-year-old was diagnosed with scleroderma, an autoimmune disease that causes scarring of the skin and internal organs, after he developed an unusual rash about 13 years ago.When experts suggested the idea of a double hand transplant the father-of-three initially dismissed the idea but then decided to go ahead despite the risks.