A groundbreaking transplant surgery has given a patient a whole new eye and a partial face. The recipient, Aaron James, suffered a severe electric shock while working as a lineman and lost his left eye, nose, lips, front teeth, left cheek, and chin, as well as his left arm above the elbow. The transplant procedure, which involved 140 medical providers and took 21 hours, allowed James to stop using breathing and feeding tubes and regain his ability to taste, smell, and eat solid foods. While it is still unclear if James will regain vision in his transplanted eye, early tests suggest that the light-detecting cells at the back of his eye respond to light.
The surgery involved two surgical teams working simultaneously and using 3D-printed “cutting guides” to precisely fit the donor’s bone and tissue into the recipient’s face. James takes immunosuppressive drugs to prevent rejection and has shown no signs of rejection so far. In addition to the physical improvements, the transplant has had a significant impact on James’ emotional well-being, boosting his confidence and improving his quality of life. The success of this transplant surgery opens up new possibilities for restoring function and appearance in patients who have suffered severe facial injuries.
