title: Vascularized composite allotransplant in the realm of regenerative plastic surgery.
abstract: Vascularized composite allotransplant (VCA) has led to new treatment options for patients with severe upper extremity and facial injuries. Although VCA can restore form and function, it exposes the patient to the risks associated with lifelong immunosuppression. Hopefully, ongoing advances in regenerative medicine will someday obviate the need for VCA, but until that time, VCA remains an immediate means of reconstructing otherwise unreconstructable defects. We review the outcomes of hand and face transplants, as well as the recent developments in immunosuppression as it relates to the field of VCA.
authors.affiliation: Division of Plastic Surgery & William J. von Liebig Transplant Center, Multidisciplinary Transplant Program, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN.
authors.forename: Harvey
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Chim
authors.affiliation: Division of Plastic Surgery & William J. von Liebig Transplant Center, Multidisciplinary Transplant Program, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN.
authors.forename: Hatem
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Amer
authors.affiliation: Division of Plastic Surgery & William J. von Liebig Transplant Center, Multidisciplinary Transplant Program, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN.
authors.forename: Samir
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mardini
authors.affiliation: Division of Plastic Surgery & William J. von Liebig Transplant Center, Multidisciplinary Transplant Program, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN. Electronic address: Moran.steven@mayo.edu.
authors.forename: Steven L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Moran
mesh_terms: D005151:Facial Injuries / Q000601:surgery*; D054445:Facial Transplantation / Q000379:methods*; D048091:Guided Tissue Regeneration / Q000379:methods; D006230:Hand Injuries / Q000601:surgery*; D063987:Hand Transplantation / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D007165:Immunosuppression Therapy; D023822:Tissue Engineering; D014184:Transplantation, Homologous; D016896:Treatment Outcome