Rewiring faces: advances and outcomes in facial nerve reconstruction after facial vascularized composite allotransplantation
FN reconstruction in FVCA is feasible and often results in partial functional recovery. However, outcomes remain heterogeneous and are influenced by surgical approach, immunologic status, and rehabilitative support. Standardized assessment tools should be more widely adopted to improve comparability and guide individualized treatment planning. Translational research and multicenter data collection are needed. FN reconstruction represents both a clinical challenge and an opportunity to improve long-term quality of life in FVCA recipients. <b>Systematic Review Registration</b>: identifier CRD420251029430.
Authors
- Andreas Kehrer (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9472-7662)
- Norbert Neckel (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5477-623X)
- Christian Festbaum (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0290-3452)
- Jan Oliver Voß (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1760-2599)
- Gabriel Hundeshagen (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6173-8602)
- Curtis L. Cetrulo (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7080-3894)
- Robert Munzinger (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0007-3114-484X)
- Tobias Niederegger (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0004-3065-4352)
- Thomas Schaschinger (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0000-6523-1641)
- Steffen Koerdt
- Leonard Knoedler
- Max Heiland
- Surbhi Joshi
- Alexandre G. Lellouch
Institutions
- Cedars-Sinai Medical Center (US)
- Harvard University (US)
- Inserm (FR)
- Heidelberg University (DE)
- University Hospital Heidelberg (DE)
- University Hospital Regensburg (DE)
- Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin (DE)
- Massachusetts General Hospital (US)
- Innovative Clinical Research (US)
- Klinikum Ludwigshafen (DE)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Frontiers in Surgery
- Published
- 2026-01-30
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.3389/fsurg.2026.1738957
- Primary Topic
- Organ and Tissue Transplantation Research
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 0.00