Doctors at Fortis Hospital perform surgery on 55-year-old Nigerian man suffering from ameloblastoma

The patient had undergone treatment for the tumour earlier in his home country, but unfortunately, the tumour continued to grow in spite of three consecutive surgeries.

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When the patient arrived at Fortis Hospital, Bannerghatta Road, the tumour had grown to an enormous size of 15x20 cm, covering the entire left side of his face, making it disfigured and difficult for him to eat or drink.

The expert team of oncologists, Dr Athira Ramakrishnan, Consultant ENT - Head & Neck Surgery, and Dr Sushma Mehta, Consultant - Maxillofacial and Head & Neck Surgery led by Dr Sandeep Nayak, Senior Director – Surgical Oncology, Robotic & Laparoscopic Oncology at Fortis Hospital Bannerghatta examined the patient and devised a surgical plan to remove the tumour and reconstruct the jawbone using a free fibula flap (a technique of filling a bony hole in the jaw).

Describing the procedure, Dr Sushma Mehta, Consultant - Maxillofacial and Head & Neck Surgery, Fortis Hospital, Bannerghatta Road, said, “The patient had a rare massive tumour on the left side of his jaw measuring about 15x20 cms. We had to remove the tumour and reconstruct the jawbone using a free fibula flap. The surgery involved taking a small portion of the patient's leg bone, along with blood vessels, and shaping it to form a new jawbone using 3D printing technology.

The procedure was extremely challenging, as it required precise trimming of the fibula bone to create a jawbone of the right size and shape while keeping the blood vessels intact. However, we were able to eliminate the tumour completely without any facial weakness and improve his quality of life. The patient was discharged 10 days post-surgery. He is currently doing well and has returned to his country. He will be back after 2 months to get his teeth fixed.”

Speaking about the case, Dr Athira Ramakrishnan, Consultant ENT - Head & Neck Surgery, Fortis Hospital, Bannerghatta Road said, “The surgical procedure involved mandibular reconstruction (mandible is the largest bone in the human skull) with 3D printing assisted free fibula flap wherein 3D virtual models of fibula and mandible are created to improve the accuracy of mandibular reconstruction.

The surgery was highly complex and had a 4% risk of failure, as it required cutting the fibula bone into the right shape along with blood vessels and creating the jawbone in the correct size and shape. Not only that, but also removal of the tumour without damaging the facial nerve which was stretched as it was right under the tumour. However, we meticulously and successfully conducted the surgery which lasted for about 8-10 hours.”

Mr Akshay Oleti, Business Head, Fortis Hospitals, Bangalore said, “The success of this complex surgery is yet another milestone for Fortis Hospital, Bannerghatta, which has state-of-the-art infrastructure and highly skilled medical professionals who are committed to providing world-class healthcare to patients. The hospital's expertise in using advanced technology and innovative techniques in treating patients with complex medical conditions has earned it a reputation as one of the leading hospitals in the region.”

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