“What made the surgery challenging was that when you try to do this marginal mandibulectomy for such a long segment, it is technically difficult as there is significant risk of fracture of the jaw bone. Fracture of jaw bone would have defeated the purpose of surgery for which patient had come to us,” Dr Singhal explained.
A new tongue and floor of the mouth was made with the help of skin and flesh from the thigh. The surgery took place on October 25.
“We did the reconstruction with anperolateral thigh flap. The patient was started on oral feeds on day 5 and discharged on day 8,” said Dr Surendra Chawla, senior consultant, Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Fortis.
Post surgery he is able to take all liquids and most of the semi solid food.
“The final report showed complete removal of the tumour and patient is on radiotherapy,” Dr Chawla said.
India has high incidence of oral cancers as 4 in 10 of all cancers are mouth cancers.
As many as 14 deaths occur every hour in India because of oral cancers.
(Sourced from agencies, feature image courtesy:pinterset.com)
