AUTHOR=Knoedler Leonard , Knoedler Samuel , Allam Omar , Remy Katya , Miragall Maximilian , Safi Ali-Farid , Alfertshofer Michael , Pomahac Bohdan , Kauke-Navarro Martin TITLE=Application possibilities of artificial intelligence in facial vascularized composite allotransplantation—a narrative review JOURNAL=Frontiers in Surgery VOLUME=10 YEAR=2023 URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/surgery/articles/10.3389/fsurg.2023.1266399 DOI=10.3389/fsurg.2023.1266399 ISSN=2296-875X ABSTRACT=

Facial vascularized composite allotransplantation (FVCA) is an emerging field of reconstructive surgery that represents a dogmatic shift in the surgical treatment of patients with severe facial disfigurements. While conventional reconstructive strategies were previously considered the goldstandard for patients with devastating facial trauma, FVCA has demonstrated promising short- and long-term outcomes. Yet, there remain several obstacles that complicate the integration of FVCA procedures into the standard workflow for facial trauma patients. Artificial intelligence (AI) has been shown to provide targeted and resource-effective solutions for persisting clinical challenges in various specialties. However, there is a paucity of studies elucidating the combination of FVCA and AI to overcome such hurdles. Here, we delineate the application possibilities of AI in the field of FVCA and discuss the use of AI technology for FVCA outcome simulation, diagnosis and prediction of rejection episodes, and malignancy screening. This line of research may serve as a fundament for future studies linking these two revolutionary biotechnologies.