A 22-year-old man named Joe DiMeo from New Jersey became the world’s first person to undergo a successful face and double hand transplant, his medical team announced on Wednesday.
A car crash in 2018 left DiMeo with third-degree burns over 80% of his body.
According to an AFP report, even though he was pulled to safety by a passerby, his injuries included amputated fingertips, severe facial scarring, and the loss of his lips and eyelids — affecting his vision and ability to lead a normal, independent life. He remained in a hospital burn unit for four months, where he received numerous grafts and life-saving blood transfusions, and was placed in a medically induced coma for nearly two and a half months.
Plastic surgeon Dr. Eduardo D. Rodriguez—in collaboration with a team of over 140 staff—performed the world’s first successful face & double hand #transplant on Joe DiMeo, a 22-year-old man who suffered burns to 80% of his body after a car accident. More: https://t.co/TvikMhxPiU pic.twitter.com/RP27CIs6tj
— NYU Langone Health (@nyulangone) February 3, 2021
The historic surgery, which took place on August 12, 2020, at NYU Langone in New York City, involved more than 140 health care professionals.
Over 23 hours, they successfully transplanted two hands, three dominant nerves to the hand, six blood vessels, 21 tendons and a full face, including forehead, eyebrows, both ears, nose, eyelids, lips, and underlying skull, cheek, nasal and chin bone segments.
After the surgery, DiMeo said he now had a “second chance at life” and offered a message of hope. Addressing a media briefing, he said, “There’s always light at the end of the tunnel, never give up.” His surgery procedure was carried out on August 12 of 2020 and lasted approximately 23 hours and was performed by NYU Langone Health, which made use of 3D printed cutting-guides.
(With Agency Inputs)
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