Naga woman with facial deformity treated successfully

New Delhi: A 30-year-old woman from Nagaland, who suffered from a facial deformity since birth for which she could not open her mouth properly, underwent a 12-hour-long correction surgery at a city hospital recently.

According to doctors, Awan Konyak faced difficulty in opening her mouth since birth. She could not chew food and could not take care of her teeth as her mouth did not open. This disorder is medically termed 'Ankylosis of TM (Temporomandibular) Joints.

After undergoing several surgeries at various hospitals, she was still unable to open her mouth, the patient then approached doctors at BLK Hospital in the national capital.

“We evaluated the complexity and criticality of the case. After investigation, it was found that the patient was suffering from a combined problem of facial deformity and severe obstructive sleep apnea. We decided to rectify the problem with joint replacement and orthognathic surgical procedures,” said, senior consultant at BLK Centre for Plastic and Cosmetic Surgery, Dr Anil Murarka.

Doctors planned for Bilateral TM Joint replacement and orthognathic surgery (jaw correction surgery). These two advanced procedures are generally performed as two different stages. But the doctors decided to undertake these procedures simultaneously.

“The procedure was planned manually (using cephalometric analysis) and through virtual means to quantify the degree of correction needed in both jaws. Her dental models were prepared and a mock surgery was done on models to prepare the guide for the surgery,” Dr Murarka added.

She was operated for bilateral TM Joint replacement and orthognathic surgeries (upper jaw osteotomy and chin advancement surgery with bone grafting) and the surgery took over 12 hours. The patient recovered very well and was discharged from the hospital after three days.