To date, psychosocial outcomes after facial transplantation are promising although long-term consequences, outcome of blind patients and the impact on family members are less well investigated. The aim of this study was to examine the long-term psychosocial of a blind patient and his partner 2 and 3 years after facial transplantation.

Depressive and anxiety symptoms, hopelessness, coping, resilience, illness cognitions, marital support, dyadic adjustment, family functioning and quality of life of the patient and the partner were assessed before and 2 and 3 years after transplantation. Reliable change index (RCI) was further calculated to evaluate the magnitude of change.

Most psychological, marital and family scores of both the patient and the partner remained within a normative and healthy range at follow-up. Resilience (RCI: 2.5 & 3.4 respectively), affective responsiveness (RCI: −4.1 & −3.2 respectively), physical quality of life (RCI: 8.7 & 7.2 respectively) and helplessness (RCI: −2.2 & −2.9 respectively) of the patient improved at 2 and 3 years follow-up. Further, dyadic cohesion (RCI: 2.4) of the patient improved at 2 years whereas marital depth (RCI: −2.0) of the partner decreased at 3 years.

The results of this study point to positive long-term psychosocial outcomes of a blind patient and his partner after facial transplantation. Further, they may underscore the importance of patient selection, social support and involvement of family members in treatment.

The authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.