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Manipal : At Kasturba Hospital here life changing surgery of Total Temporomandibular Joint replacement on a distracted mandible (jaw joint) which was successfully surgery held and First reported case of successful surgery in India.

Speaking to media persons at Udupi Press Club in press meet on 30^th  Thursday, 30^th November, 2017, he said the following :

Scenario 1: A 21-year-old man has got a reason to smile again after a life changing surgery of Total Temporomandibular Joint replacement on a distracted mandible was performed on him at Kasturba Medical College and Hospital, Manipal by the Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, M.C.O.D.S, Manipal.

Aman(Name changed) a 21-year-old young man who hails from a small village in Karnataka lived a shy life as he was unable to open his mouth from birth which had negatively affected his personality and he led a secluded life. The disability meant that Aman was too self-conscious to walk the streets, meet new people or make new friends. It had also affected his ability to thrive.

This was then he visited Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, M.C.O.D.S, Manipal. Dr. Abhay Taranath Kamath, Prof and HOD, Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, M.C.O.D.S Manipal told that when he first visited the department he came across as a very shy individual who was reluctant to talk or interact with anyone as he had no mouth opening. With difficulty in chewing the food as well as significant Obstructive sleep apnea, (Obstructive sleep aponea is a serious sleep disorder, It causes breathing to repeatedly stop and start during sleep) his health had also suffered and he appeared very frail and malnourished.

 A treatment plan was formulated where in it was decided that a total temporomandibular joint replacement would be performed on a distracted mandible, with the treatment plan divided in two phases. In the first phase patient would undergo Distraction Osteogenesis for his small jaw and small chin to overcome his sleep apnea and later on in the second phase he would undergo release of his joint fusion and simultaneous jaw replacement, which would give him a good mouth opening and good facial appearance.

The procedure of performing total joint replacement on a Distracted mandible in patients with TMJ ankylosis using Biomet stock prosthesis is the first reported case in India and probably one of the few cases reported in English literature.

Scenario 2: In another scenario, (Ravi, name changed) aged 20 years had undergone Maxillofacial surgery for a tumor removal in his right lower jaw including removal of the lower jaw as well at  Kasturba Medical College and Hospital, Manipal by the Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, M.C.O.D.S, Manipal, around 3 years back, since then the patient has been disease free, however the psychological stigma of losing a portion of the face had taken a toll on the boy. He had stopped moving around in public, the parents of the boy had visited the Department of Oral and maxillofacial surgery, M.C.O.D.S Manipal ,and after discussing with Dr. Abhay T Kamath , it was decided to replace the lower right jaw with titanium made implant specifically made for this case (Patient Matched Implant) .

The procedure of performing patient matched implant using Biomet custom made joint is again first reported case in India.

The Surgery in both the scenarios was performed by Dr. Abhay .T. Kamath, who has undergone extensive training in T.M.J replacements under Dr. David Psutka at Toronto Canada.

He was assisted by the team comprised of Dr. Adarsh, Dr. Srikanth, Dr. Chitra, Dr. Sunil and Dr. Anand. The surgical procedure was uneventful with the patients achieving good dietary scores and mouth opening. Dr. Anitha Nileshwar Professor and Head of the Department, Department of Anesthesia, K.M.C Manipal and Dr. Manjunath, Professor of Department of Anesthesia, K.M.C Manipal provided the Anesthesia cover for both the cases.  The surgical outcomes has made the patients more confident and has bought back their missing smile. The surgery has not only transformed the faces of the patient but also changed their lives.

Speaking on the occasion Dr. Abhay T Kamath said “we thank all those who supported through financial assistance to Mr. Aman’s surgery”.  

Dr. Keerthilatha M. Pai Dean, Manipal College of Dental Sciences, Manipal, said the outcomes of the surgery was remarkable and transformed not only the face and mouth but also the whole individual. I am very proud of our Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery team M.C.O.D. S Manipal, headed by Dr. Abhay Taranath Kamath.

Dr. (Col.) M Dayananda, Medical Superintendent of Kasturba Medical College and Hospital, Manipal, said that “We are proud to have advanced dental surgeries done at Kasturba Hospital, that too for their first time in country congratulations to Dr. Abhay Kamat & his dedicated team & also Manipal college of Dental Sciences Manipal”.

Dr. Keethilatha M Pai, Dean, Manipal College of Dental Sciences, Manipal, Anil Jacob, Marketing Senior Manager, Kasturba Hospital were present.