A SERVICE
OF 
Hand and Arm
Transplants: Progress Reports
November 1, 2000· by TNN Medical Reporter Virginia
Baskerville
- Progress on two different kinds of limb transplants appeared in the
news in October. * News outlets including Reuters and the Associated Press
reported that the recipient of the world's first modern hand transplant wants
the limb removed. Clint Hallam of Australia received his new right hand and
forearm in September 1998 in an operation led by surgeons Earl Owen of Sydney,
Australia, and Jean-Michel Dubernard of Lyon, France. On April 17, 1999, in The
Lancet (1999;353:1315-1320), the surgeons reported that Mr. Hallam was making
early progress and could feel some sensation in the hand. However, news reports
subsequently chronicled Mr. Hallam's failure to keep in touch with his doctors
and to follow prescribed drug regimens. In the most recent reports, the news
services said Mr. Hallam had complained of pain and that he had become
"mentally detached" from his transplanted hand. According to Reuters, Dr.
Dubernard has refused to remove the hand. * Reuters also reported on the
progress being made by a Malaysian baby who was born without an arm and, at a
month old, received a transplanted arm from her twin sister, who died at birth.
The surgery was performed May 18 at Selayang Hospital in Kuala Lumpur. Reuters
said that two of the three major nerves in the baby's arm have recovered, but
surgeons still aren't sure if a full recovery will occur. However, the hand is
growing and the elbow and wrist are reportedly functioning.
-
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