2529: Software based video analysis of functional outcomes of face transplantation

Abstract

2529: Software based video analysis of functional outcomes of face transplantation Sebastian Fischer, MD, Nico Krezdorn, Anne Huang, Muayyad Alhefzi, Mario A. Aycart, Harriet Kiwanuka, Yannick Diehm, Thet S. Win, Ericka M. Bueno, and Bohdan Pomahac Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Boston, MA, USA Introduction Outcomes assessment in face transplantation is necessary to provide evidence in support of this livegiving surgery Current methods, however, are imprecise or prone to subjectivity Software-based video analysis allows for fast, objective and retrospective assessment of the functions related to facial movement and expression of emotions Patients and methods We recorded standard electronic videos of each of our 7 face transplant recipients before as well as every 3 to 6 months after transplantation Each video consists of a patient performing a standard sequence of facial movements We retrospectively analyzed all videos using a customized software (Affdex, iMotions, Boston, MA) that automatically tracks and measures the magnitude and direction of facial movements and expressions by recognizing 24 standard reference anatomical points in the face Subsequently, we compared the measurements obtained for a particular patient with those obtained for the same patient at different time points to assess facial motion recovery Results After a mean follow up of 35 years, every patient had showed significant improvements in facial motor function when compared with pre transplant time points Significant improvements were first observed after an average of 6 months after transplantation In 3 patients with partial face transplants, the extent and quality of motor function of the transplanted parts of the face did not show any significant differences compared to the unaffected part 1 y after transplantation Conclusion Software based video analysis provides the first assessment tool capable for objective, precise and reproducible analysis of facial motor and expressive function after face transplantation Of note, this software works with conventional camera and computer equipment, making widespread use possible Standardized lightning conditions and patients’ compliance with performing the facial motor tasks are required to achieve comparable results. CONTACT Bohdan Pomahac bpomahac@partners.org © 2016 Sebastian Fischer, Nico Krezdorn, Anne Huang, Muayyad Alhefzi, Mario A. Aycart, Harriet Kiwanuka, Yannick Diehm, Thet S. Win, Ericka M. Bueno, and Bohdan Pomahac. Published with license by Taylor & Francis. This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-Non-Commercial License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/), which permits unrestricted non-commercial use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. The moral rights of the named author(s) have been asserted. VASCULARIZED COMPOSITE ALLOTRANSPLANTATION 2016, VOL. 3, NOS. 1–2, 19 http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/23723505.2016.1232947