Face Transplantation for Granulomatosis With Polyangiitis (Wegener Granulomatosis)
January 2019
in “
Annals of plastic surgery
”
Studysummary This case report details a face and scalp transplant in a patient with granulomatosis with polyangiitis and trauma, showing an encouraging 3-year outcome without disease relapse or severe complications. Our plain-language summary of this paper — not a Tressless recommendation.
This study reported on a rare face transplant performed on a patient with Granulomatosis with Polyangiitis (GPA) 3 years prior. The patient underwent a Le Fort III near-total face and scalp transplant due to extensive trauma and subsequent infections. The 21-hour procedure involved complex vascular connections and preserved the functioning left eye. Over 3 years, the patient achieved an acceptable aesthetic outcome with scalp hair growth, recovered sensory functions, and did not experience GPA relapse. Four acute rejections were successfully reversed. The case highlighted the potential of face transplantation for life-threatening conditions beyond aesthetic and functional restoration.
