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FRANCE: HAND TRANSPLANTEE CLINT HALLAM PRESS CONFERENCE
Clint Hallam (born in New Zealand) was the first recipient of a human hand transplant. Hallam lost his hand in a circular saw accident at Rolleston prison in 1984, where he was incarcerated after a fraud conviction. The original reattachment of the severed limb failed, and he had his hand amputated.
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Transplantation
A surgery team led by Australian Earl Owen and Frenchman Jean-Michel Dubernard transplanted a new hand on 23 September 1998 in a 13-hour-long operation in Lyon, France. At the time of the transplant Clint Hallam faced fraud charges in Australia, in relation to a national fuel-card scam totalling $30,000. After an initial period of two years during which he had no motor control of the transplanted hand, Hallam voluntarily stopped taking immunosuppressive drugs.
The transplanted hand was amputated on 3 February 2001 by Nadey Hakim. Hallam had issues with the transplant because of failure to take anti-rejection medicine regularly, and performing the exercises required to build strength and motor capabilities.
