U.S. doctors have successfully perform the world ’s first fond scalp and skull transplantation . James Boysen experience the craniofacial tissue transplant , as well as a kidney and pancreas transplantation , after a rare cancer left him with a severe head wound .
Boysen is in “ fear ” that he ’s up and walking just two weeks after his operation . He was first diagnose withleiomyosarcoma , a rare type of Crab that formulate in still heftiness , on his scalp in 2006 . Though he was treated with chemotherapy and radiation , Boysen was left with a 25 - by-25 - centimeter ( 10 - by-10 - in ) yap on his nous that left his mind vulnerable . To impart to his misery , Boysen ’s kidney and pancreas , which he received in 1992 to treat his diabetes , were failing . But Dr. could not perform a much require double - Hammond organ transplant if he still had an undecided wound .
The resistant suppression drug he was on to prevent his body rejecting the conferrer organs created " a sodding violent storm that made the combat injury not heal , " Boysen told theAssociated Press(AP ) .
Dr. Jesse Selber , a reconstructive plastic surgeon at MD Anderson , soon made a connection between Boysen ’s break kidney and pancreas , the anti - rejection medication he was on and the want to repair the wound on his pass . The team decided to compound the operating theater , give Boysen a scalp and partial skull transplant as well as a kidney and pancreas transplant , while still receiving protection from the medicament he was taking .
" This was a truly unique clinical situation that create the opportunity to perform this complex transplant , " Selber say in astatement .
The surgery saw more than 50 health care professional , including plastic surgeons , a team of transplant sawbones and neurosurgeons , do the first ever skull - scalp transplantation from a human donor , alternatively of an unreal implant or osseous tissue graft .
" This was a very complex surgery because we had to transplant the tissue apply microsurgery , " said Dr. Michael Klebuc of Houston Methodist Hospital . " opine connecting line of descent watercraft 1/16 of an in under a microscope with tiny stitches about half the diameter of a human hair being done with tools that one would use to make a o.k. Swiss watch . "
Boysen was discharged from Houston Methodist Hospital , but will remain at Nora ’s Home in Houston for several hebdomad of follow - up care .
" I ’m amazed at how dandy I feel and am forever thankful that I have another probability to get back to doing the things I love and be with the people I love , " Boysen say in astatement . He jestingly toldThe AP , “ I will have way more hair’s-breadth than when I was 21 . ”
