World's 1st Double Arm Transplant

MUNICH, Germany (AP) — A German farmer who received the world's first complete double arm transplant said Wednesday that incredulity gave way to joy when he woke from surgery to discover he had arms again.

Karl Merk, who lost his arms in a farming accident six years ago, said he at first could not believe that the transplant appeared to have been successful.

"It was really overwhelming when I saw that I had arms again," said the 54-year-old, who wore a sleeveless black shirt showing clearly where his new arms had been grafted.

"These are my arms, and I'm not giving them away again," he told reporters at the Munich University Clinic where he remains nearly three months after the 15-hour operation.

Merk is recovering well and can perform simple tasks such as opening doors and turning lights on and off. His ultimate goals are to eat and dress himself — and ride a motorcycle.

"All in all, our wildest expectations have pretty much been fulfilled," said Christoph Hoehnke, one of the lead doctors.

A total of 40 surgeons, anesthesiologists, nurses and other support staff carried out the 15-hour operation on July 25-26 to graft the donor's arms on to the body of Merk, who lost his own just below the shoulder in a combine harvester accident.

Doctors said there were good indications of nerve growth in the arms but it could take up to two years before he relearns how to use his hands.

Merk appeared at the news conference Wednesday with lower arms bandaged and supported with a series of straps attached to shoulder pads.

Merk said he was looking forward to going home after four to six more weeks of an intensive program of physiotherapy, electric stimulation and psychological counseling.

There is also still a risk that Merk's immune system will react, though doctors said so far there was no sign of them being rejected.

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• double
• arm
• transplant
• karl
• merk
• munich
• germany
• surgery

[sagondoo]

Back to slappin' hos!

[hesmydarkness]

OH wow people are messed up, loosing a limb isn't just hard on one person, it affects their entire family, how about you just trying to brush your teeth, every day task! this is one of the biggest advances in medical! and the U.S. doesn't even want to attempt this kind of surgery! this is amazing! thank goodness for Germany to take this leap!

[MistaDALEgend]

this is great, but there's just one thing that bothers me a little:

Where exactly do they get the arms to do all this?

[danich45]

now he can wack off again, the hook must have hurt

[crabbypants1978]

Yeah, it would been funnier if he said, " Ive always wanted to learn how to juggle chainsaws."

[iLuvBarRefaeli]

Good for him

[mightyholiness]

please doctor I lost my dick in a car accident> what could you do for me? I know a black guy who died recently. could I have his?

[schnarfel]

ride a motorbike... now what the fuck.