- Surgeons at Apollo Hospital Lucknow Restore Jaw function & Man’s Ability to Eat Food After 14 Years
- Childhood injury left patient’s jaw locked and unopened, rare surgery brings relief
TIL Desk Lucknow :
A story of hope and resilience became true, when, a rare and complex surgical procedure at Apollomedics Super Speciality Hospital, Lucknow, has brought relief to a patient who had been unable to open his mouth for past 14 years. The patient’s mouth had remained completely closed & his jaws were locked since the age of 5-6 years due to a childhood injury. This condition severely impacted him & the man was unable to eat or speak for past 14 years since then.
The challenging procedure was performed by Dr Sumit Malhotra, Director and HOD of Plastic, Cosmetic & Reconstructive Surgery, along with Dr Saurabh Mohindru, Consultant in the same department.
Telling about the case, Dr Sumit Malhotra told the media, “Pt Aditya, 19, hailing from Sant Kabir Nagar Uttar Pradesh, came to our hospital with locked jaw and unable to eat any solid food for past 14 years and completely on a liquid diet for the said duration. This also impacted his growth & ability to speak severely. The patient had consulted various drs & visited various hospitals but could not get any satisfactory treatment. When this patient came to us, he first visited the dental sciences department. On further diagnosis, it was found that an injury during his childhood had damaged his Temporal Mandible joint which resulted in locking the jaw completely. The patient was referred to plastic surgery department for further treatment. Our team repaired the joint using a highly specialised “muscle flap” technique to restore jaw function. This ensured the jaw joint did not fuse again by attaching muscles with an active blood supply.
This procedure, rarely performed in northern India, is an extremely intricate surgery, but our approach ensured the patient’s jaw could function normally without the risk of future complications.”
Dr Saurabh Mohindru, Consultant Plastic Cosmetic & Reconstructive Surgery added, “After this surgery, the patient was able to eat solid food, including roti, for the first time in 14 years. His ability to open his mouth has significantly improved, restoring vital functions like eating and speaking. Such surgeries require precision, expertise and a team effort. We are delighted to have all this together which resulted in the patient regaining normalcy in his life.”
Dr Amita Agarwal, HOD Dental Sciences added, “The recovery process in these cases involves 2-3 weeks of physiotherapy. Initially, the patient may face discomfort or hesitation while opening the mouth, but regular exercises will ensure full flexibility and strength and will restore his jaw function completely.
Dr Mayank Somani, MD and CEO of Apollomedics Super Speciality Hospital, said, ” This surgery is not just a medical success but a life-changing experience for the patient. It has restored both functionality and confidence, allowing the patient to lead a normal life again. It was a very emotional moment for the patient and their family as he had tasted the food first time in life after surgery. This is a proud achievement for our team. It reflects our hospital’s commitment to providing innovative and advanced medical care with compassion for even the most challenging cases. This case is a testament to our team’s efforts & focus on holistic care and innovation.”
