Composite Orbital and Periorbital Allotransplantation Model

Abstract

Restoration of visual function following complete blindness caused by defects of the orbital tissues currently is not possible. Vascularized composite allotransplantation opened a new era in reconstructive surgery and provided an option to reconstruct the defective tissue with the same tissue. Different experimental face composite tissue allotransplantation models (full face transplant model, hemiface transplant model, and different facial subunit models) have been described so far. However, none of these facial allotransplantation models include periorbital tissues and globe. The anatomic and histologic structure of eyeball is unique and it is impossible to reconstruct the globe. The advance in allotransplantation provided an option for transplantation of eyeball. In this chapter, an orbital composite tissue allotransplantation model including the orbital globe, periorbital soft tissues and optic nerve is described. The results are encouraging and showed that periorbital tissues together with the globe can be transplanted to another animal, even if they are not functional. However, we hope that a functional repair of the optic nerve might be possible in the future, given the major advances in the field of neuro-ophthalmology, namely on the survival of the retinal ganglion cells and regeneration of the optic nerve.