MUNICH - The world's first double-arm transplant patient has spoken for the first time of his delight at the pioneering surgery.
German farmer Karl Merk (54) is recovering well and is able to perform some basic tasks, but doctors said it could take up to two years before he learns how to use his new hands.
Surgeons spent 15 hours in July grafting the donor arms on to the body of Mr Merk, who lost his own just below the shoulder in a farm accident involving a combine harvester six years ago. "These are my arms, and I'm not giving them away again," Mr Merk said at the Munich University Clinic where the operation took place.
Mr Merk said that when he first woke up, he could not believe it had been completed successfully.
"It was really overwhelming when I saw that I had arms again," he said.
So far, he can perform simple tasks with his new arms - using them to open doors and switch lights on and off. Doctors said there were indications of nerve growth in his arms, but it could still take up to two years before his hands could be usable.
Mr Merk said he was just looking forward to going home, which doctors said could be in four to six weeks.
In the meantime, he will have to continue an intensive programme of physiotherapy, electric stimulation and psychological counselling.
There is still a risk that his immune system will react to his new arms, though doctors said so far there was no sign of them being rejected. - ( AP)