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Page: << Prev | 1 | 2 The patient experienced episodes of tissue rejection 28 and 64 days after the transplant, but both episodes were successfully managed by doctors. One year after the surgery, sensation and motor function had returned in the transplanted area.
The man's psychological recovery was excellent, and he achieved complete social reintegration. He also began full-time work 13 months after the transplant.
"Our case confirms that face transplantation is surgically feasible and effective for the correction of specific disfigurement, due in this case to a genetic disorder...Long-term follow-up is needed to assess the risks linked to the immunogenicity of allogenic composite tissues, particularly as regards life expectancy. Following this initial success, other patients are currently being assessed," concluded Laurent Lantieri, of the department of plastic and reconstructive surgery, CHU Henri Mondor in Creteil, and colleagues.
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In an accompanying editorial about both reports, Dr. Jean-Michel Dubernard, of the E Herriot University Lyon I Hospital, France, and Dr. Bernand Devauchelle, of the Amiens-Nord University Hospital, Amiens, France, wrote that cooperation between the pioneering teams responsible for these operations is necessary "to answer the many technical, functional, immunological, and psychological questions raised by face transplantation."
"The definition of the best indications - e.g., trauma, malformations, benign tumors, burns -- will also greatly benefit from this cooperation," they added.
The world's first face transplant was performed in Amiens, France, in November 2005. It involved 38-year-old Isabelle Dinoire, who was mauled by her dog and had a nose, lips and chin grafted onto her face. The donor was a brain-dead 46-year-old woman.
Eighteen months after the landmark transplant, Dinoire was able to eat, drink and smile.
More information
MedlinePlus has more about face and head reconstruction.
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-- Robert Preidt
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