title: Functional outcomes of face transplantation.
abstract: In this study we provide a compilation of functional impairments before and improvements after face transplantation (FT) of five FT recipients of our institution and all FTs reported in current literature. Functional outcome included the ability to smell, breath, eat, speak, grimace and facial sensation. Before FT, all our patients revealed compromised ability to breath, eat, speak, grimace and experience facial sensation. The ability to smell was compromised in two of our five patients. Two patients were dependent on tracheostomy and one on gastrostomy tubes. After FT, all abilities were significantly improved and all patients were independent from artificial air airways and feeding tubes. Including data given in current literature about the other 24 FT recipients in the world, the abilities to smell, eat and feel were enhanced in 100% of cases, while the abilities of breathing, speaking and facial expressions were ameliorated in 93%, 71% and 76% of cases, respectively. All patients that required gastrostomy and 91% of patients depending on tracheostomy were decannulated after FT. Unfortunately, outcomes remain unreported in all other cases and therefore we are unable to comment on improvements.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Division of Plastic Surgery, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA; Department of Hand-, Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Burn Trauma Center, BG Trauma Center Ludwigshafen, University of Heidelberg, Ludwigshafen, Germany.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Fischer
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kueckelhaus
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Pauzenberger
authors.forename: E M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Bueno
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Pomahac
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D004435:Eating / Q000502:physiology; D005149:Facial Expression; D005151:Facial Injuries / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D054445:Facial Transplantation; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006084:Graft Rejection; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D011379:Prognosis; D020127:Recovery of Function; D012119:Respiration; D012677:Sensation / Q000502:physiology; D012903:Smell / Q000502:physiology; D013060:Speech / Q000502:physiology; D014945:Wound Healing / Q000502:physiology*
keywords: clinical research/practice; clinical trial; health services and outcomes research; insurance; organ acceptance; quality of life (QOL); rehabilitation; vascularized composite and reconstructive transplantation