Not too long ago there was a true story of a worker who had his hand severed. The damage to the hand itself was actually minor, it was a clean cut. But his wrist needed time before the hand could have been reattached. So, how do you keep the limb from atrophying? Easy, graft it to the guys ankle where his own system maintains circulation and whatnot. In time when his wrist is ready, the hand can be returned to its rightful place.
Let's hope it won't be sewn on backwards! Apparently many doctors from around came to see the freak procedure. Too lazy to look, but it was in China Daily