The world's experience with facial transplantation: what have we learned thus far?
The objective of this review article is to summarize the published details and media citations for all seven face transplants performed to date to point out deficiencies in those reports so as to provide the basis for examining where the field of face transplantation stands, and to act as a stimulus to enhance the quality of future reports and functional outcomes. Overall long-term function of facial alloflaps has been reported satisfactorily in all seven cases. Sensory recovery ranges between 3 and 6 months, and acceptable motor recovery ranges between 9 and 12 months. The risks and benefits of facial composite tissue allotransplantation, which involves mandatory lifelong immunosuppression analogous to kidney transplants, should be deliberated by each institution's multidisciplinary face transplant team. Face transplantation has been shown thus far to be a viable option in some patients suffering severe facial deficits which are not amenable to modern-day reconstructive technique.
Gordon
Chad R
CR
Department of Plastic Surgery, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH 44195, USA. gordonc@ccf.org
Siemionow
Maria
M
Papay
Francis
F
Pryor
Landon
L
Gatherwright
James
J
Kodish
Eric
E
Paradis
Carmen
C
Coffman
Kathy
K
Mathes
David
D
Schneeberger
Stefan
S
Losee
Joseph
J
Serletti
Joseph M
JM
Hivelin
Mikaël
M
Lantieri
Laurent
L
Zins
James E
JE
D000328:Adult; D002058:Burns, Electric / Q000601:surgery; D005151:Facial Injuries / Q000601:surgery*; D054445:Facial Transplantation / Q000009:adverse effects; D005260:Female; D006084:Graft Rejection / Q000188:drug therapy; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009456:Neurofibromatosis 1 / Q000601:surgery; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000453:epidemiology; D020127:Recovery of Function; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014948:Wounds, Gunshot / Q000601:surgery
D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents