The majority of the world’s first 50 face transplants have survived for at least a decade, researchers have discovered. Doctors revisited dozens of patients who had the reconstructive surgery over the last decade in 11 countries. They found that 85 percent of the transplants survived for five years; and 74 percent for at least 10 years.
Of the 50 transplants, six were rejected and another two needed to have the face re-transplanted. Dr Pauliina Homsy, a co-author of the research led by Finland’s University of Helsinki, told The Independent on Wednesday that, initially, all face transplants were experimental and could only be done for patients “under very strict criteria.” “What hasn’t changed is that it’s still done only for patients with no other options.
Because, it’s a massively invasive surgery and with real risks related to surgery and the recovery [a] the lifetime of immunosuppression,” she said. “But, what has changed is that, actually, the patients are doing really well.” The findings, published Wednesday in the journal JAMA Surgery , is the first time that the global long-term outcomes of the transplants has been studied.
“The reason why we want to know it is to try and convince people outside of our area who fund it and control the regulated permissions that actually this is a valid option for those patients [who] all the other reconstructive options have been exhausted for,” Homsy said. A total of 50 face transplants have been performed si.