![Patient Karl Merk pictured during the press conference at university hospital 'rechts der Isar' (literally: hospital on the right hand side of the river Isar) in Munich, Germany, 08 October 2008. The Patient Karl Merk pictured during the press conference at university hospital 'rechts der Isar' (literally: hospital on the right hand side of the river Isar) in Munich, Germany, 08 October 2008. The](https://c8.alamy.com/comp/D4E358/patient-karl-merk-pictured-during-the-press-conference-at-university-D4E358.jpg)
Patient Karl Merk pictured during the press conference at university hospital 'rechts der Isar' (literally: hospital on the right hand side of the river Isar) in Munich, Germany, 08 October 2008. The
![Transplant patient German farmer Karl Merk, trains in a gym at the hospital in Memmingen July 22, 2009. Merk became the worlds first complete double arm transplant patient, after losing both his Transplant patient German farmer Karl Merk, trains in a gym at the hospital in Memmingen July 22, 2009. Merk became the worlds first complete double arm transplant patient, after losing both his](https://c8.alamy.com/comp/2D15NBR/transplant-patient-german-farmer-karl-merk-trains-in-a-gym-at-the-hospital-in-memmingen-july-22-2009-merk-became-the-worlds-first-complete-double-arm-transplant-patient-after-losing-both-his-own-just-below-the-shoulder-in-a-farm-accident-involving-a-combine-six-years-ago-the-operation-to-graft-donor-arms-onto-the-body-of-merk-took-15-hours-reutersmichael-dalder-germany-sci-tech-health-2D15NBR.jpg)
Transplant patient German farmer Karl Merk, trains in a gym at the hospital in Memmingen July 22, 2009. Merk became the worlds first complete double arm transplant patient, after losing both his
![German farmer Karl Merk, 54, is pictured reflected in a mirror as he lies in his bed next to a gingerbread heart reading 'Good luck' in a Munich hospital, October 10, 2008. German farmer Karl Merk, 54, is pictured reflected in a mirror as he lies in his bed next to a gingerbread heart reading 'Good luck' in a Munich hospital, October 10, 2008.](https://c8.alamy.com/compfr/2d1bd23/german-farmer-karl-merk-54-is-pictured-reflected-in-a-mirror-as-he-lies-in-his-bed-next-to-a-gingerbread-heart-reading-good-luck-in-a-munich-hospital-october-10-2008-merk-who-received-the-worlds-first-complete-double-arm-transplant-is-able-to-perform-some-basic-tasks-but-it-still-could-take-up-to-two-years-until-he-re-learns-how-to-use-his-hands-properly-doctors-spent-15-hours-on-july-25-26-grafting-the-donor-arms-onto-the-body-of-merk-who-lost-his-own-just-below-the-shoulder-in-a-farm-accident-involving-a-combine-six-years-ago-reuters-alexandra-beier-germany-2d1bd23.jpg)
German farmer Karl Merk, 54, is pictured reflected in a mirror as he lies in his bed next to a gingerbread heart reading 'Good luck' in a Munich hospital, October 10, 2008.
![Patient Karl Merk (C) is pictured next to doctor Christoph Hoehnke (R) during the press conference at university hospital 'rechts der Isar' (literally: hospital on the right hand side of the river Patient Karl Merk (C) is pictured next to doctor Christoph Hoehnke (R) during the press conference at university hospital 'rechts der Isar' (literally: hospital on the right hand side of the river](https://c8.alamy.com/comp/D4E35B/patient-karl-merk-c-is-pictured-next-to-doctor-christoph-hoehnke-r-D4E35B.jpg)
Patient Karl Merk (C) is pictured next to doctor Christoph Hoehnke (R) during the press conference at university hospital 'rechts der Isar' (literally: hospital on the right hand side of the river
![German farmer Karl Merk, 54, looks at his transplanted arms as he lies in his bed in a Munich hospital, October 10, 2008. Merk who received the world's first complete double arm German farmer Karl Merk, 54, looks at his transplanted arms as he lies in his bed in a Munich hospital, October 10, 2008. Merk who received the world's first complete double arm](https://c8.alamy.com/compfr/2d1b084/german-farmer-karl-merk-54-looks-at-his-transplanted-arms-as-he-lies-in-his-bed-in-a-munich-hospital-october-10-2008-merk-who-received-the-worlds-first-complete-double-arm-transplant-is-able-to-perform-some-basic-tasks-but-it-still-could-take-up-to-two-years-until-he-re-learns-how-to-use-his-hands-properly-doctors-spent-15-hours-on-july-25-26-grafting-the-donor-arms-onto-the-body-of-merk-who-lost-his-own-just-below-the-shoulder-in-a-farm-accident-involving-a-combine-six-years-ago-reuters-alexandra-beier-germany-2d1b084.jpg)
German farmer Karl Merk, 54, looks at his transplanted arms as he lies in his bed in a Munich hospital, October 10, 2008. Merk who received the world's first complete double arm
![Karl Merk (L) presents a touch exercise next to his surgeon Edgar Biemer in the central clinic in Memmingen, Germany, 22 July 2009. Merk received the first arm transplant worldwide one year Karl Merk (L) presents a touch exercise next to his surgeon Edgar Biemer in the central clinic in Memmingen, Germany, 22 July 2009. Merk received the first arm transplant worldwide one year](https://c8.alamy.com/comp/D4KGMP/karl-merk-l-presents-a-touch-exercise-next-to-his-surgeon-edgar-biemer-D4KGMP.jpg)
Karl Merk (L) presents a touch exercise next to his surgeon Edgar Biemer in the central clinic in Memmingen, Germany, 22 July 2009. Merk received the first arm transplant worldwide one year
![German farmer Karl Merk, 54, looks at his transplanted arms in a Munich hospital, October 10, 2008. Merk who received the world's first complete double arm transplant is able to perform some German farmer Karl Merk, 54, looks at his transplanted arms in a Munich hospital, October 10, 2008. Merk who received the world's first complete double arm transplant is able to perform some](https://c8.alamy.com/compfr/2d299k2/german-farmer-karl-merk-54-looks-at-his-transplanted-arms-in-a-munich-hospital-october-10-2008-merk-who-received-the-worlds-first-complete-double-arm-transplant-is-able-to-perform-some-basic-tasks-but-it-still-could-take-up-to-two-years-until-he-re-learns-how-to-use-his-hands-properly-doctors-spent-15-hours-on-july-25-26-grafting-the-donor-arms-onto-the-body-of-merk-who-lost-his-own-just-below-the-shoulder-in-a-farm-accident-involving-a-combine-six-years-ago-reuters-alexandra-beier-germany-2d299k2.jpg)
German farmer Karl Merk, 54, looks at his transplanted arms in a Munich hospital, October 10, 2008. Merk who received the world's first complete double arm transplant is able to perform some
![54 year-old German farmer Karl Merk looks at his transplanted arm in a Munich hospital, October 10, 2008. Merk who received the world's first complete double arm transplant is able to perform 54 year-old German farmer Karl Merk looks at his transplanted arm in a Munich hospital, October 10, 2008. Merk who received the world's first complete double arm transplant is able to perform](https://c8.alamy.com/compfr/2d26w58/54-year-old-german-farmer-karl-merk-looks-at-his-transplanted-arm-in-a-munich-hospital-october-10-2008-merk-who-received-the-worlds-first-complete-double-arm-transplant-is-able-to-perform-some-basic-tasks-but-it-still-could-take-up-to-two-years-until-he-re-learns-how-to-use-his-hands-properly-doctors-spent-15-hours-on-july-25-26-grafting-the-donor-arms-onto-the-body-of-merk-who-lost-his-own-just-below-the-shoulder-in-a-farm-accident-involving-a-combine-six-years-ago-reuters-alexandra-beier-germany-2d26w58.jpg)