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| 'Good progress' after first UK hand transplant | |
| (about 9 hours later) | |
| By James Gallagher Health and science reporter, BBC News | By James Gallagher Health and science reporter, BBC News |
| A former pub landlord from West Yorkshire has become the first person in the UK to have a hand transplant. | A former pub landlord from West Yorkshire has become the first person in the UK to have a hand transplant. |
| Mark Cahill, who is 51, had been unable to use his right hand after it was affected by gout. | Mark Cahill, who is 51, had been unable to use his right hand after it was affected by gout. |
| Doctors say he is making good progress after an eight-hour operation at Leeds General Infirmary. | Doctors say he is making good progress after an eight-hour operation at Leeds General Infirmary. |
| It is still very early to assess how much control of the hand will be gained - so far he can wiggle his fingers, but has no sense of touch. | It is still very early to assess how much control of the hand will be gained - so far he can wiggle his fingers, but has no sense of touch. |
| 'My hand' | 'My hand' |
| Mark Cahill, from Greetland near Halifax, said: "When I look at it and move it, it just feels like my hand. | Mark Cahill, from Greetland near Halifax, said: "When I look at it and move it, it just feels like my hand. |
| "Right now it feels really good, it's not a lot of pain, it looks good, it looks a great match and I'm looking forward to getting it working now." | "Right now it feels really good, it's not a lot of pain, it looks good, it looks a great match and I'm looking forward to getting it working now." |
| Mr Cahill's new hand is still bandaged up, but he can already move his fingers. It is hoped that with time he will gain much greater levels of movement and sensation. | Mr Cahill's new hand is still bandaged up, but he can already move his fingers. It is hoped that with time he will gain much greater levels of movement and sensation. |
| He developed gout in his toes and feet 20 years ago. Five years ago it spread to his right hand leaving him unable to open his fingers or use his hand for anything. | He developed gout in his toes and feet 20 years ago. Five years ago it spread to his right hand leaving him unable to open his fingers or use his hand for anything. |
| One option would have been a bionic hand, but he volunteered for the pioneering surgery. | One option would have been a bionic hand, but he volunteered for the pioneering surgery. |
| As well as being a first for the UK, it was also the first time a recipient's hand has been amputated during an operation to attach a donor hand. | As well as being a first for the UK, it was also the first time a recipient's hand has been amputated during an operation to attach a donor hand. |
| The fresh cut, made where you would wear a watch, allowed surgeons to connect nerves in Mr Cahill's arm with those in the donor hand with great precision - along with the bone, blood vessels and tendons. | The fresh cut, made where you would wear a watch, allowed surgeons to connect nerves in Mr Cahill's arm with those in the donor hand with great precision - along with the bone, blood vessels and tendons. |
| The operation took place on 27 December when a donor hand became available. | The operation took place on 27 December when a donor hand became available. |
| 'Extremely challenging' | 'Extremely challenging' |
| Prof Simon Kay, a consultant plastic surgeon at the hospital, said: "The team was on standby from the end of November awaiting a suitable donor limb, and the call came just after Christmas. | Prof Simon Kay, a consultant plastic surgeon at the hospital, said: "The team was on standby from the end of November awaiting a suitable donor limb, and the call came just after Christmas. |
| "It was extremely challenging to be the first team in the UK to carry out such a procedure. | "It was extremely challenging to be the first team in the UK to carry out such a procedure. |
| "It is still early days but indications are good and the patient is making good progress." | "It is still early days but indications are good and the patient is making good progress." |
| He also paid tribute to the donor and their family. | He also paid tribute to the donor and their family. |
| Leeds General Infirmary already has a reputation for reattaching hands which have been accidentally cut off. | Leeds General Infirmary already has a reputation for reattaching hands which have been accidentally cut off. |
| This operation has been planned for more than two years and the hospital was in touch with plastic surgeons across the country looking for people who might be suitable. | This operation has been planned for more than two years and the hospital was in touch with plastic surgeons across the country looking for people who might be suitable. |
| Potential patients had to be assessed - both physically and psychologically - to ensure they were suitable for the procedure. | Potential patients had to be assessed - both physically and psychologically - to ensure they were suitable for the procedure. |
| The surgical team also liaised with surgeons in France who performed the first hand transplant in 1998. | The surgical team also liaised with surgeons in France who performed the first hand transplant in 1998. |
| The first recipient was Clint Hallam, from New Zealand, who had lost a hand in an accident with a circular saw more than a decade earlier. | The first recipient was Clint Hallam, from New Zealand, who had lost a hand in an accident with a circular saw more than a decade earlier. |
| He later had the hand removed, complaining it was like a dead man's hand with no feeling in it. | He later had the hand removed, complaining it was like a dead man's hand with no feeling in it. |
| More than 60 hand transplants have been carried out around the world. | More than 60 hand transplants have been carried out around the world. |