Baby Gets Arm-Hand Transplant From Twin Sister

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia (Reuters)

The world's first arm and hand transplant to a baby was carried out on Chong Lih Ying, whose donor was her identical twin sister, Malaysian authorities said.

At less than a month old, Chong received the left arm and hand of her sister, who had died when the pair were born.

Chong, now 52-days old, had the microsurgery on May 18.

Malaysia's Health Minister Chua Jui Meng said the transplanted arm was expected to function fully by the end of the year.

"Her left arm and hand is pink and warm and the nails are growing. There is also a little movement in her hand," Chua told reporters Saturday at Selayang Hospital, on the outskirts of the capital, where the microsurgery was performed.

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