295: German man receives double arm transplant

This truly amazing story was covered widely today. I'm posting the version from the UK's Telegraph newspaper. It reports that a German farmer, who lost both his arms in an accident several years ago, has received the world's first double arm transplant. The man, who is 54, recently received arms from a 19-year-old donor. The procedure to reopen the man's blood vessels and other connective tissue was difficult, taking five teams of surgeons 15 hours to complete, but it was apparently very successful. Following another five weeks of intensive therapy he will be able to use his new arms without assistance, though it could be up to 2 years before he has feeling in his fingertips. It just shows how far transplant technology has come. And for this man, it's brought a new lease of life. (Photo from EPA / Telegraph.)