Science

Period 1-2 Science Current Event Most Extensive Full Face Transplant to Date This Article, Most Extensive Full Face Transplant to Date, discusses how a full face transplant was completed. The operation took 36 hours and included the tongue, the teeth, and both jaws. This procedure started on March 19th and ended on March 20th. The procedure took place at R. Adams Cowley Shock Trauma Center at the University of Maryland Medical Center. A team of 150 nurses and professional staff from University of Maryland School of Medicine, involved with this face transplant Medicine. The face transplant also known as vascularized composite allograft, was part of a 72 hour marathon of transplant activity. The family of an anonymous donor generously donated his face and the same donor also saved five other lives through donation of his organs. The face transplant team was led by Eduardo D. Rodriguez, M.D., D.D.S., associate professor of surgery, at the University of Maryland School of Medicine, and chief of plastic, reconstructive and maxillofacial surgery. Dr. Rodriguez is board-certified in reconstructive surgery and plastic, as well as in oral and maxillofacial surgery. This was the first time in the world that a full face transplant was done by a team of plastic and reconstructive surgeons. “We utilized innovative surgical practices and computerized techniques to precisely transplant the mid-face, maxilla and mandible including teeth, and a portion of the tongue. In addition, the transplant included all facial soft tissue from the scalp to the neck, including the underlying of the muscles to enable facial expression, and sensory and motor nerves to restore feeling and function,” explained Dr. Rodriguez. This face transplant took very long and was hard work, but the face transplant met everyone’s expectation. Also, thanks to the donor this person now actually has a face to see, smell, hear, and taste. This face transplant was very challenging, but the doctors overcame those challenges and transplanted a nice new face for this person. Bibliography Science Daily “Most Extensive Full Face Transplant to Date”, Science Daily, March 26, 2012