Human facial allotransplantation: a 2-year follow-up study.
BACKGROUND
Progress in composite tissue allotransplantation could provide a new treatment for patients with severe facial disfigurements. We did a partial facial allotransplantation in 2006, and report here the 2 year follow-up of the patient.


METHODS
The recipient, a 30-year-old man from China, had his face severely injured by a bear in October, 2004. Allograft composite tissue transplantation was done in April, 2006, after careful systemic preparation. The surgery included anastomosis of the right mandibular artery and anterior facial vein, whole repair of total nose, upper lip, parotid gland, front wall of the maxillary sinus, part of the infraorbital wall, and zygomatic bone. Facial nerve anastomosis was done during the surgery. Quadruple immunomodulatory therapy was used, containing tacrolimus, mycophenolate mofetil, corticosteroids, and humanised IL-2 receptor monoclonal antibody. Follow-up included T lymphocyte subgroups in peripheral blood, pathological and immunohistochemical examinations, functional progress, and psychological support.


RESULTS
Composite tissue flap survived well. There were three acute rejection episodes at 3, 5, and 17 months after transplantation, but these were controlled by adjustment of the tacrolimus dose or the application of methylprednisolone pulse therapy. Hepatic and renal functions were normal, and there was no infection. The patient developed hyperglycaemia on day 3 after transplantation, which was controlled by medication.


CONCLUSIONS
Facial transplantation could be successful in the short term, but the procedure was not without complications. However, promising results could mean that this procedure might be an option for long-term restoration of severe facial disfigurement.
Guo
Shuzhong
S
Institute of Plastic Surgery, Xijing Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, Shaanxi Province, China.
Han
Yan
Y
Zhang
Xudong
X
Lu
Binglun
B
Yi
Chenggang
C
Zhang
Hui
H
Ma
Xianjie
X
Wang
Datai
D
Yang
Li
L
Fan
Xing
X
Liu
Yunjing
Y
Lu
Kaihua
K
Li
Huiyuan
H
D000328:Adult; D000714:Anastomosis, Surgical / Q000379:methods*; D000890:Anti-Infective Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002681:China; D005151:Facial Injuries / Q000601:surgery*; D054445:Facial Transplantation / Q000379:methods*; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006084:Graft Rejection / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D016038:Skin Transplantation; D013530:Surgical Wound Infection / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000382:microbiology; D016378:Tissue Transplantation / Q000379:methods*
D000890:Anti-Infective Agents; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents