<p>A 51-year-old man said he was looking forward to holding his grandson's hand on Thursday (January 3) after becoming the first UK hand transplant recipient.<br /><br />Mark Cahill, who lost the use of his right hand due to gout, underwent the eight-hour operation to have his hand removed and replaced on December 27 2012.<br /><br />"Hopefully I will be able to get back to work for a start. That's a major difference. I might be able to cut my food up, button my shirts, fasten a pair of shoelaces but mainly I'll be able to hold my grandson's hand," he said.<br /><br />Doctors at Leeds General Infirmary in northern England said a new technique was used which allowed very accurate restoration of nerve structures.<br /><br />"I'm getting slight movement now - my feeling has just started to come back but everything's looking very very good, it's doing well," he added.<br /><br />Leeds Teaching Hospital announced in late 2011 that it was looking for potential candidates for arm or hand transplants.<br /><br />Mr Cahill was one of two potential candidates for treatment after a search across the country, and he was eventually chosen because he was the best tissue match.<br /><br />The Leeds team worked with colleagues in Lyon, France, where hand transplants were pioneered in 1988.</p>
