Hemiface Transplantation: A Step-By-Step Surgical Technique Video in A Rodent Model

Several preclinical animal models of face transplantation have been described in the literature with variable broad descriptions of surgical technique, but none with accompanying video with granular details of surgical dissection. In particular, the rodent hemifacial transplantation model has many advantages compared with other larger animals for its analogous anatomy to humans, vessel sizes appropriateness for anastomosis, cost, operation time, and ease of animal care. In this study, the authors describe a step-by-step surgical technique with video demonstration of face transplantation in a rodent model, allowing for high reproducibility of the procedure.

Hemifacial transplantation procedures were performed on rodents. The vascular pedicle was based on the facial and superficial temporal arteries and the external jugular vein. End-to-side anastomosis of the common carotid arteries and end-to-end anastomosis of the external jugular veins between donor and recipient animals were performed.

Animals did well postoperatively with adequate resuscitation and pain control regimen. Operative time can widely vary based on the surgeon's microsurgical skills and mostly based on the comfort level with the procedure.

Taken together, this study describes a step-by-step surgical technique with video demonstration of face transplantation in a rodent model. This method is reproducible to anyone with microsurgical skills.