Faculty Bibliography

IMPORTANCE/UNASSIGNED:Since 2005, a total of 50 face transplants have been reported from 18 centers in 11 countries. The overall survival of the grafts has not yet been established. OBJECTIVE/UNASSIGNED:To assess the survival of the face transplant grafts and evaluate factors potentially influencing it. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS/UNASSIGNED:Data on all the transplants included in this multicenter cohort study were collected at participating transplant centers for updated nonpublished data, supplemented with literature review for nonparticipating centers. Data from 2005 until September 2023, were included. Data were analyzed from November 11, 2005, through September 18, 2023. Patients included the first 50 patients in the world to have received a face transplant. EXPOSURE/UNASSIGNED:Face transplant graft. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES/UNASSIGNED:The primary outcome was the overall survival of the face transplant graft, defined as either transplant loss or patient death. The secondary outcome was the number of acute rejection episodes per year. RESULTS/UNASSIGNED:The 50 transplants were performed on 39 men (81%) and 9 women (19%) with a median age of 35 (range, 19-68) years at the time of the transplant. The median follow-up time was 8.9 (range, 0.2-16.7) years. During the follow-up, 6 transplants were lost with 2 patients retransplanted. There were 10 patients who died, 2 of whom had lost a transplant. The 5- and 10-year survival of the transplants was 85% (SD, 5%) and 74% (SD, 7%), respectively. The sequential number of the transplant in the world was a significant predictor of survival (hazard ratio, 95; 95% CI, 90-100; P < 05). The median number of acute rejection episodes per year was 1.2 (range, 0-5.3) for the transplants that were lost and 0.7 (range, 0-4.6) for the transplants that survived. No correlation with patient and transplant variables was detected for either the transplant survival or the number of rejection episodes. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE/UNASSIGNED:In this study, the overall survival of the face transplants is encouraging. These data suggest that the acceptable long-term survival of face transplants makes them a reconstructive option for extensive facial defects.

IMPORTANCE/UNASSIGNED:Catastrophic facial injury with globe loss remains a formidable clinical problem with no previous reports of reconstruction by whole eye or combined whole eye and facial transplant. OBJECTIVE/UNASSIGNED:To develop a microsurgical strategy for combined whole eye and facial transplant and describe the clinical findings during the first year following transplant. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANT/UNASSIGNED:A 46-year-old man who sustained a high-voltage electrical injury with catastrophic tissue loss to his face and left globe underwent combined whole eye and face transplant using personalized surgical devices and a novel microsurgical strategy at a specialized center for vascularized composite allotransplantation. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES/UNASSIGNED:Reperfusion and viability of the whole eye and facial allografts, retinal function, and incidence of acute rejection. RESULTS/UNASSIGNED:The patient underwent a combined whole eye and face transplant from an immunologically compatible donor with primary optic nerve coaptation and conventional postoperative immunosuppression. Globe and retinal perfusion were maintained throughout the immediate postoperative period, evidenced by fluorescein angiography. Optical coherence tomography demonstrated atrophy of inner retinal layers and attenuation and disruption of the ellipsoid zone. Serial electroretinography confirmed retinal responses to light in the transplanted eye. Using structural and functional magnetic resonance imaging, the integrity of the transplanted visual pathways and potential occipital cortical response to light stimulation of the transplanted eye was demonstrated. At 1 year post transplant (postoperative day 366), there was no perception of light in the transplanted eye. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE/UNASSIGNED:This is the first report of whole eye transplant combined with facial transplant, demonstrating allograft survival including rejection-free graft survival and electroretinographic measurements indicating retinal response to light stimuli. These data highlight the potential for clinical allotransplantation for globe loss.

BACKGROUND/UNASSIGNED:A deeper understanding of acute rejection in vascularized composite allotransplantation is paramount for expanding its utility and longevity. There remains a need to develop more precise and accurate tools for diagnosis and prognosis of these allografts, as well as alternatives to traditional immunosuppressive regimens. METHODS/UNASSIGNED:Twenty-seven skin biopsies collected from 3 vascularized composite allotransplantation recipients, consisting of face and hand transplants, were evaluated by histology, immunohistochemistry staining, and gene expression profiling. RESULTS/UNASSIGNED:significantly predicted inflammation specific to vascularized composite allografts that required therapeutic intervention. CONCLUSIONS/UNASSIGNED:The mechanism of vascularized composite allograft-specific inflammation and rejection appears to be conserved across different patients and skin on different anatomical sites. A concise gene signature can be utilized to ascertain graft status along with a continuous scale, providing valuable diagnostic and prognostic information to supplement current gold standards of graft evaluation.

BACKGROUND/UNASSIGNED:Vascularized composite allotransplantation (VCA) has become a viable option for restoration of devastating injuries that are not amenable to conventional reconstructive techniques. However, the relative scarcity of procedures performed worldwide, as well as the potential for iatrogenic injury with biopsies, makes studying the immunopathogenesis of acute rejection challenging. Translational VCA research focuses on developing strategies to overcome these barriers with the use of animal models can be technically challenging and difficult to replicate without highly trained microsurgeons. METHODS/UNASSIGNED:We describe a modified model of a femur-based composite tissue allograft using an adapted vascular cuff anastomotic technique with a tunneled skin flap in a rodent model. RESULTS/UNASSIGNED:The use of a heterotopic osteomyocutaneous flap with a subcutaneously tunneled-skin paddle to the posterolateral aspect of the recipient rodent allows for ease of flap monitoring and reduces the risk of self-mutilation. A total of six transplantations were conducted with no signs of self-mutilation. Operative time decreased as our surgical technique improved, and long-term graft tolerance was possible under our immunosuppressive regimen. Additionally, we demonstrate cases of successful transplantation in both an allogeneic and syngeneic rodent model. CONCLUSION/UNASSIGNED:Animal models, although technically challenging, are a reliable and reproducible modality that has been used to investigate various aspects of VCA immunology. We describe the success of an osteomyocutaneous flap with a modified vascular cuff anastomosis that can be used by investigators with less experience in microsurgical techniques to further our understanding of VCA physiology. Furthermore, tunneling of the skin paddle reduces the risk of self-mutilation and other external factors affecting the graft.

BACKGROUND:Facial feminization surgery (FFS) is an emerging practice that falls under the broader umbrella of gender-affirming surgery. Various approaches exist to feminize the face, yet few published articles describe in detail the techniques of each component procedure. Considering the diversity of interventions employed, the objective of this manuscript is to highlight FFS techniques utilized by the senior author and create a corresponding media gallery. METHODS:All patients with the diagnosis of gender dysphoria that were referred to the senior author for FFS consultation between June 2017 and August 2022 were reviewed. Data were retrospectively collected from electronic medical records according to the institutional review board (IRB)-approved study protocol. Data collected and analyzed included demographics, operative documentation, and postoperative follow-up. Multimedia material was collected intraoperatively and postoperatively. RESULTS:A total of 231 patients underwent 262 operations with a total of 1224 FFS procedures. The average follow-up time was 7.7 ± 11 months. Out of the 262 operations, 24 (9.2%) patients experienced minor complications, including 3 (1.1%) with wound dehiscence, 13 (5.0%) with hematomas, and 14 (5.3%) with postoperative infection requiring antibiotics. Of those, 3 (1.1%) required a return to the operating room for washout or removal of malar implants. CONCLUSION/CONCLUSIONS:Although there is a consensus on the fundamental surgical principles to achieve adequate feminization of the facial architecture, the specific techniques to do so differ according to individual practices. As techniques diverge, so do their risk profiles and outcomes; techniques must, thus, align with patients' interventional goals. The material presented here is one of many that can support trainees and junior surgeons as they build a gender-affirming practice.

Face transplantation (FT) has emerged as a critical intervention for patients with complex facial deformities unsuitable for conventional reconstructive methods. It aims to restore essential functions such as facial expression, mastication, and speech, while also improving psychosocial health. The procedure utilizes various surgical principles, addressing unique challenges of craniofacial complexity and diverse injury patterns. The integration of Computerized Surgical Planning (CSP) leverages computer-aided technologies to enhance preoperative strategy, intraoperative navigation, and postoperative assessment. CSP utilizes three-dimensional computed tomography, printing, angiography, and navigation systems, enabling surgeons to anticipate challenges and reduce intraoperative trial and error. Through four clinical cases, including a groundbreaking combined face and bilateral hand transplant, CSP's role in FT is highlighted by its ability to streamline operative processes and minimize surgical revisions. The adoption of CSP has led to fewer cadaveric rehearsals, heightened operative precision, and greater alignment with preoperative plans. Despite CSP's advancements, it remains complementary to, rather than a replacement for, clinical expertise. The demand for technological resources and multidisciplinary teamwork is high, but the improved surgical outcomes and patient quality of life affirm CSP's value in FT. The technology has become a staple in reconstructive surgery, signaling a step forward in the evolution of complex surgical interventions.

As innovations in the field of vascular composite allotransplantation (VCA) progress, whole-eye transplantation (WET) is poised to transition from non-human mammalian models to living human recipients. Present treatment options for vision loss are generally considered suboptimal, and attendant concerns ranging from aesthetics and prosthesis maintenance to social stigma may be mitigated by WET. Potential benefits to WET recipients may also include partial vision restoration, psychosocial benefits related to identity and social integration, improvements in physical comfort and function, and reduced surgical risk associated with a biologic eye compared to a prosthesis. Perioperative and postoperative risks of WET are expected to be comparable to those of facial transplantation (FT), and may be similarly mitigated by immunosuppressive protocols, adequate psychosocial support, and a thorough selection process for both the recipient and donor. To minimize the risks associated with immunosuppressive medications, the first attempts in human recipients will likely be performed in conjunction with a FT. If first-in-human attempts at combined FT-WET prove successful and the biologic eye survives, this opens the door for further advancement in the field of vision restoration by means of a viable surgical option. This analysis integrates recent innovations in WET research with the existing discourse on the ethics of surgical innovation and offers preliminary guidance to VCA programs considering undertaking WET in human recipients.