The world’s first partial skull and scalp transplant

Doctors from Houston Methodist Hospital and The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center have performed the world’s first skull and scalp transplant, enabling a 55-year-old Austin man to simultaneously receive a life-saving kidney and pancreas transplant.His a walking transplant just kidding meant to say miracle but seriously a skull and scalp transplant then a kidney and pancreas transplant the doctors there must be really good

In a 15-hour operation, more than 60 medical professionals completed the four transplants after years of planning and an 18-month wait for a donor of similar size, skin tone and hair color to the patient, James Boysen. His skull and scalp problems had been caused by radiation treatment four years ago. This treatment was necessitated by a rare form of cancer blamed on immunosuppressant drugs he took to prevent rejection after a kidney and pancreas transplant in 1992.

The radiation left him with a deep wound through his scalp and skull down to his brain. His transplanted organs were failing, but the infection risk of his head wound prevented him from getting a new transplant.

I couldn’t get the transplant surgery for the organs without fixing my scalp, but they couldn’t fix the scalp because of the failing organs,” said Boysen, who participated in a news conference with his doctors Thursday. “I was between a rock and a hard place

The innovative solution, a skull and scalp transplant, was conceived by Dr. Jesse Selber, a plastic surgeon with M.D. Anderson who was treating Boysen. When Selber was approached by Dr. Osama Gaber, director of Methodist’s transplant program, about doing facial transplants, Selber told him about Boysen. They agreed to collaborate.

Over the next year, the doctors assembled their teams and prepared carefully, knowing that once the call came, they would have to spring into a carefully choreographed routine. For 18 months, the team remained on call as they waited for a suitable donor.

Finding the right match would be tricky. Boysen had antibodies in his blood from his previous transplant. The team rejected numerous donors before finally finding an appropriate one on May 21.

https://youtu.be/EZ8rMDVQHBI

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