JAMA Surg

Encouraging long-term results for the first 50 face transplants

September 23, 2024

Face transplants have an encouraging long-term survival rate, making them a viable option for reconstructing extensive facial defects.

The study included the first 50 face transplant recipients worldwide, comprising 39 men (81%) and 9 women (19%), with a median age of 35 years. Median follow-up was 8.9 years.

During follow-up, 6 transplants were lost with 2 patients retransplanted. Ten patients died, 2 of whom had lost a transplant. The 5- and 10-year survival rates for the transplants were 85% and 74%, respectively. The sequential number of the transplant globally 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 for lost transplants and 0.7 for surviving transplants.

Source:

Homsy P, et al. (2024, September 18). JAMA Surg. An Update on the Survival of the First 50 Face Transplants Worldwide. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39292472/