Joe DiMeo’s life changed forever when he fell asleep at the wheel on U.S. Route 22 in New Jersey on July 14, 2018. The horrific crash left him with third-degree burns on 80% of his body and a grim prognosis. Now, more than two years later, DiMeo, 22, is the recipient of the world’s first successful double hand and face transplant, and on the road to recovery. The historic surgery, which took place on Aug. 12, 2020, at NYU Langone in New York City, involved more than 140 health care professionals. Over 23 hours, they successfully transplanted two hands, three dominant nerves to the hand, six blood vessels, 21 tendons and a full face, including forehead, eyebrows, both ears, nose, eyelids, lips, and underlying skull, cheek, nasal and chin bone segments. Face and hand transplants have been performed independently, but this double procedure had been attempted twice before and was unsuccessful both times. For this procedure, surgeons used computer-generated three-dimensional guides. They ensured that bones were properly aligned and implants were in position to anchor the grafted face and hands to DiMeo. Technology aside, a big part of DiMeo’s success owes to his can-do attitude, according to the head of his surgical team, Dr. Eduardo Rodriguez, director of NYU Langone’s Face Transplant Program. “He is the most highly motivated patient I have ever met,” Rodriguez…  read on >  read on >

Joe DiMeo’s life changed forever when he fell asleep at the wheel on U.S. Route 22 in New Jersey on July 14, 2018. The horrific crash left him with third-degree burns on 80% of his body and a grim prognosis. Now, more than two years later, DiMeo, 22, is the recipient of the world’s first successful double hand and face transplant, and on the road to recovery. The historic surgery, which took place on Aug. 12, 2020, at NYU Langone in New York City, involved more than 140 health care professionals. Over 23 hours, they successfully transplanted two hands, three dominant nerves to the hand, six blood vessels, 21 tendons and a full face, including forehead, eyebrows, both ears, nose, eyelids, lips, and underlying skull, cheek, nasal and chin bone segments. Face and hand transplants have been performed independently, but this double procedure had been attempted twice before and was unsuccessful both times. For this procedure, surgeons used computer-generated three-dimensional guides. They ensured that bones were properly aligned and implants were in position to anchor the grafted face and hands to DiMeo. Technology aside, a big part of DiMeo’s success owes to his can-do attitude, according to the head of his surgical team, Dr. Eduardo Rodriguez, director of NYU Langone’s Face Transplant Program. “He is the most highly motivated patient I have ever met,” Rodriguez…  read on >  read on >

WEDNESDAY, Feb.3, 2021A majority of dermatology patients are happy with telehealth appointments in place of in-person office visits, a new study finds. The COVID-19 pandemic has forced many medical specialties to move from in-person to online appointments, but dermatology had already seen increased use of telehealth visits over the last decade, according to the George Washington (GW) University researchers. “Teledermatology boasts a number of benefits, including increased access to care, cost savings for patients, convenience, and, with the current pandemic, avoids physical contact,” study co-author Samuel Yeroushalmi said in a university news release. He’s a third-year medical student at the GW School of Medicine and Health Sciences in Washington, D.C. However, virtual appointments do have potential issues, including privacy concerns, appropriate image acquisition and adequate health care provider training, the study authors noted. To assess patient satisfaction with teledermatology appointments, the researchers distributed an online survey to dermatology patients at the GW Medical Faculty Associates. Nearly half (47%) of the respondents said they’d had a previous appointment canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and almost 18% were new patients with no previous in-office appointment. Patients said they liked that telehealth visits were time-efficient, didn’t require transportation and maintained social distancing. Reasons they didn’t like virtual appointments included lack of physical touch and feeling they received an inadequate assessment. When asked if they would recommend telehealth…  read on >  read on >

WEDNESDAY, Feb.3, 2021A majority of dermatology patients are happy with telehealth appointments in place of in-person office visits, a new study finds. The COVID-19 pandemic has forced many medical specialties to move from in-person to online appointments, but dermatology had already seen increased use of telehealth visits over the last decade, according to the George Washington (GW) University researchers. “Teledermatology boasts a number of benefits, including increased access to care, cost savings for patients, convenience, and, with the current pandemic, avoids physical contact,” study co-author Samuel Yeroushalmi said in a university news release. He’s a third-year medical student at the GW School of Medicine and Health Sciences in Washington, D.C. However, virtual appointments do have potential issues, including privacy concerns, appropriate image acquisition and adequate health care provider training, the study authors noted. To assess patient satisfaction with teledermatology appointments, the researchers distributed an online survey to dermatology patients at the GW Medical Faculty Associates. Nearly half (47%) of the respondents said they’d had a previous appointment canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and almost 18% were new patients with no previous in-office appointment. Patients said they liked that telehealth visits were time-efficient, didn’t require transportation and maintained social distancing. Reasons they didn’t like virtual appointments included lack of physical touch and feeling they received an inadequate assessment. When asked if they would recommend telehealth…  read on >  read on >