8 Incredible Medical Breakthroughs That Are Right Around The Corner

If a prosthesis isn't really for you, smart skin and all, then worry not because you could always opt for a limb transplant instead.

Brendan Marrocco, a veteran of the Iraq war underwent a 13-hour surgery for his double hand and arm transplant and is now able to throw and catch a ball with his brand new limbs. In 2011, Will Lautzenheiser lost all four of his limbs to a streptococcal infection. In an operation that lasted 9 hours and involved 13 surgeons, he was given a double arm transplant from an anonymous donor and is pursuing a career as a filmmaker.

Arms are one thing, but legs are a slightly more complicated matter as they have to be able to bear the weight of the body, not to mention allowing the patient to balance on two feet.

In 2011, a man in his 20s was given the first double leg transplant and began to take his first steps in the specialist clinic in Valencia. Unfortunately, he suffered an infection from a totally unrelated disease, was forced to stop taking his anti-rejection drugs for treatment and had the legs amputated as a result. 

Despite this unfortunate setback, it goes to show that we've at least got the concept nailed, complications notwithstanding, and if we can overcome rejection issues as we are beginning to in internal organ transplants, we could be on the cusp of a major medical breakthrough.