Dr Arnold Augustino, a local specialist and MNH maxillofacial surgeon, said shortly after the surgery that “the tumour excision and mandibular reconstruction with costochondral and iliac bone grafting” was conducted yesterday for seven hours, a breakthrough for MNH in the surgical procedure.
“This procedure is applied to patients with ankylosis, trauma and advanced osteoarthritis and is reliable, efficient, causing less morbidity than the technique of using composite free flaps,” he stated.
The bone involved in the surgery was taken from the rib and implanted in the jaw joint, he said, elaborating that other bones have been taken from the hip on both sides, to be combined with the bone removed from the rib to enable the jaw to be made exactly like it was.
“Then it was connected with a special metal implant to repair the part of the jaw damaged by diseases,” he said, affirming that the patient is expected to restart eating and chewing as usual since artificial teeth are fitted on the jaw bone that was created.
The patient has undergone three surgeries within the same procedure, first to remove a piece of bone from the rib, second to remove bones from both hips and third to remove the tumour, he said.
The seven hour surgery involved collaborating with a specialist team from other departmental units within MNH, namely jaw, face, anaesthesia, surgical nurses and others, he said.
MNH has in recent years enhanced its capacity to provide major surgical services, starting with cochlear implant, radiology intervention, kidney and then bone marrow transplants.
The hospital first launched kidney transplant services in2017 and later in the year sent its experts for training on conducting liver transplants. The kidney transplant was the second achievement in a row by the hospital after a successful cochlear implant surgery in June 2017 the specialist indicated.
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