Guernsey Press

Double hand transplant surgeon hopes donors will be encouraged

A GUERNSEY-EDUCATED professor who has become the first UK surgeon to complete a double hand transplant hopes the procedure will encourage more donors to come forward.

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Consultant plastic surgeon Professor Simon Kay led a team of eight surgeons who spent 12 hours in the operating theatre changing the life of 57-year-old Chris King, who now says he 'feels whole again'.

Mr King lost both his hands, except the thumbs, in an accident involving a metal pressing machine at work three years ago.

He has become the second person to have a hand transplant at the UK's specialist centre for the operation at Leeds General Infirmary and the first to have both hands replaced.

Prof. Kay, who came to Guernsey aged one and left at the age of 18 to go to medical school after studying at Elizabeth College, said: 'It's the first time we've done that in the UK. It's the first time, as far as I'm aware, that a hand transplant has been done which hasn't been above the wrist, which has been within the substance of the hand, which makes it much more difficult and more complex.'

He said his patient was doing well. 'Everybody latches onto movement but, of course, it's very important that he regains the feeling as well.

'And I would expect that he will regain very good movement and very good feeling.'

Mr King said he now looks forward to holding a bottle of beer and wearing shirts with real buttons.

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