The Advent of Vascularized Composite Allotransplantation.
Modern microsurgical techniques have made possible a broad spectrum of novel means for the reconstruction of complex bone and soft tissue defects. These techniques, in combination with developments in transplant immunology, have led to successful hand and facial allotransplantation and achievement of the highest rung in the reconstructive ladder - truly replacing like with like. The utilization of contemporary microsurgical technique in the context of vascularized composite allotransplantation (VCA) (1) permits successful technical execution and feasibility of VCA, (2) facilitates the study of immunologic tolerance in VCA preclinical models, and (3) optimizes functional VCA outcomes.
Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Massachusetts General Hospital, 15 Parkman Street, Wang ACC #435, Boston, MA 02114, USA; Vascularized Composite Allotransplantation Laboratory, Center for Transplantation Sciences, Massachusetts General Hospital, Charlestown Navy Yard, Building 149, 13th Street, Suite 9019, Boston, MA 02129, USA. Electronic address: CCETRULO@mgh.harvard.edu.
Curtis L
CL
Cetrulo
Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Massachusetts General Hospital, 15 Parkman Street, Wang ACC #435, Boston, MA 02114, USA; Vascularized Composite Allotransplantation Laboratory, Center for Transplantation Sciences, Massachusetts General Hospital, Charlestown Navy Yard, Building 149, 13th Street, Suite 9019, Boston, MA 02129, USA.
Zhi Yang
ZY
Ng
Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Massachusetts General Hospital, 15 Parkman Street, Wang ACC #435, Boston, MA 02114, USA.
Jonathan M
JM
Winograd
Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Massachusetts General Hospital, 15 Parkman Street, Wang ACC #435, Boston, MA 02114, USA.
Kyle R
KR
Eberlin
D064595:Composite Tissue Allografts / Q000098:blood supply / Q000276:immunology; D006084:Graft Rejection; D006801:Humans; D007108:Immune Tolerance; D008866:Microsurgery; D063986:Vascularized Composite Allotransplantation
Allotransplantation; Composite tissue grafting; Tissue transfer