Technology has come a long way.
Since the first face transplant was performed in 2005, a total of 50 surgeries have been completed in 11 countries, showing encouraging long-term results, according to a recent review. Researchers found that 85% of patients survived five years after the procedure, with 74% still alive a decade later. When focusing specifically on deaths directly related to the transplants, survival rates improved to 96% at five years and 83% at ten years.
These outcomes are significantly better than those for other types of organ transplants, such as liver and heart transplants, which have ten-year survival rates of 61% and 65%, respectively. The review was led by Dr. Pauliina Homsy from the University of Helsinki and was published in JAMA Surgery. The data included 50 face transplants performed on 48 patients across 18 centers worldwide.
The majority of the patients were male, with many having undergone the surgery due to traumatic injuries, while others were victims of burns. Full-face transplants were necessary in just over half of the cases, while the rest involved partial restoration. As with any transplant, the risk of rejection by the immune system necessitates long-term medication, and immune rejection was a factor in several transplant failures.
Despite the promising survival rates, the review highlighted a lack of research on other important aspects of the procedure, such as the long-term functionality of the transplants, potential health risks, and psychological impacts. Drs. Kristen Stephen and Scott Hollenbeck, in an editorial accompanying the review, emphasized the advancements in face transplant techniques since the first surgery but noted the high costs associated with these procedures.
These expenses have posed challenges for hospitals, particularly as the number of face transplants has declined since peaking between 2011 and 2014. The authors stressed the need for hospitals to balance the financial aspects of these surgeries with the value they provide to patients, which complicates the initiation and maintenance of face transplant programs.
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