Last week, in a 36-hour operation, Richard Lee Norris (shown here before his accident) received a full face transplant at the University of Maryland Medical Center. The transplant team was led by reconstructive specialist Dr. Eduardo D. Rodriguez.
A set of photographs have been released that show how extensive the surgery was, and so far it seems to be quite successful. The pictures may be disturbing to some people, but in my opinion they are okay for all but the most squeamish, so go ahead and take a look at the amazing life-changing work. The surgery was funded by the Office of Naval Research (ONR).
Link to story.
Link to pictures.
"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 muscles to enable facial expression, and sensory and motor nerves to restore feeling and function," explains Dr. Rodriquez. "Our goal is to restore function as well as have aesthetically pleasing results."
The face transplant recipient, 37-year-old Richard Lee Norris of Hillsville, Virginia, was injured in 1997 in a gun accident. Since that time, he has undergone multiple life-saving and reconstructive surgeries. Due to the accident, Mr. Norris lost his lips and nose and had limited movement of his mouth. Mr. Norris first came to the University of Maryland Medical Center in 2005 to discuss reconstructive options with Dr. Rodriguez.
A set of photographs have been released that show how extensive the surgery was, and so far it seems to be quite successful. The pictures may be disturbing to some people, but in my opinion they are okay for all but the most squeamish, so go ahead and take a look at the amazing life-changing work. The surgery was funded by the Office of Naval Research (ONR).
Link to story.
Link to pictures.
http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/03/27/us-usa-health-face-idUSBRE82Q15O20120327