Double Arm Transplant(pic inside)

And he has been given the arms of a teenage boy who is believed to have died in a car crash.

The 54-year-old unnamed patient lost both of his arms in a farming accident six years ago.

The 16-hour operation was done by surgeons in Munich and the man is said to be recovering well. He is expected to be able to leave the hospital in about five weeks.

The transplant team was led by renowned surgeon professor Edgar Biemer, 65, and his colleague Christof Hoehnke.

There is still a possibility that the patient's body will reject the donor limbs, professor Biemer has pointed out.

"The forces of rejection are stronger with these organs than with any other transplants because the skin is the largest immune barrier for the body. It instinctively rejects skin it doesn't recognise.

"New medicines have been developed to stop this rejection and the patient in this case will be taking this medicine all his life.

Transplant technology is advancing rapidly, with others already benefiting from single limb transplants.

Frenchwoman Isabelle Dinoire, 38, was given a partial face transplant after being savaged by her dog.