From November 18th to 21st, the International Microsurgery Program, a joint initiative by Operation Smile, the University of Medicine and Pharmacy, and E Hospital, screened and treated patients with head and neck deformities free of charge through microsurgery for head, neck, and facial cancers, as well as diseases of the seventh cranial nerve.
Doctors examine and prescribe microsurgery to restore the smile of a boy disfigured after a firework accident. (Photo: TX)
Following the initial screening on November 19th, doctors at E Hospital performed the first microsurgeries. The youngest patient examined during this program was an 11-year-old boy named NTA from Quang Ninh province, who presented with facial deformities, loss of soft tissue in the upper and lower lips, lip retraction, inability to close his mouth, and significantly displaced teeth.
Reportedly, the patient, who suffered tissue loss in the mouth and face after a domestic accident in 2022 caused by a firecracker exploding in the face, resulting in fractures of the upper and lower jaw, loss of the upper and lower lips, etc., underwent maxillofacial surgery at a medical facility.
Having learned about the program through a referral, the mother was determined to bring her child to Hanoi with the hope of restoring her child's smile like other children her age. Recognizing the severity of the case, the specialists held a consultation and determined that the patient had severe tissue defects and contractions in the oral and facial region. Immediately afterward, the patient was scheduled for surgery to release the contractions and partially cover the defect with a microsurgical flap.
Mr. DHH (35 years old, residing in Nghi Xuan commune, Ha Tinh province) learned about the program by chance through the E Hospital's fanpage. He decided to register and attend the International Microsurgery program for a mandibular bone defect and a mandibular ameloblastoma. During the examination, doctors discovered that Mr. H's jawbone showed signs of severe inflammation, which would be life-threatening if not surgically treated promptly. Immediately, the patient was transferred for microsurgery.
Similarly, Ms. PTL (female, 40 years old, from Hai Duong) suffered from a defect in the left upper jawbone after surgery to remove maxillary bone carcinoma, cervical lymph node dissection, and gracilis flap reconstruction two years ago. Currently, the patient has a sunken left cheek below the left eye socket. After consultation with experts from EDA Hospital, Taiwan, the patient was prescribed reconstructive surgery to repair the maxillary bone defect using microsurgical techniques…
These are three of the many patients who received free microsurgery during this outreach program.
According to Dr. Nguyen Hong Nhung, Department of Maxillofacial Surgery, E Hospital, such microsurgical reconstructive surgery usually lasts about 8-10 hours. After surgery, patients can end their pain, practice swallowing and speaking, and return to normal life. Currently, doctors at E Hospital have implemented microsurgical flap reconstruction techniques to treat many cases of maxillofacial cancer, especially oral cancer, with many positive results, providing high treatment efficacy for cancer patients, while also helping to restore function, anatomy, aesthetics, and psychology, improving the quality of life for patients.
Dr. Nguyen Tan Van, Deputy Head of the Department of Dentistry and Maxillofacial Surgery, E Hospital; Head of the Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, University of Medicine and Pharmacy - Vietnam National University, Hanoi, shared: “When patients suffer from large and complex facial injuries, choosing microsurgical reconstruction to repair the defects is the optimal choice and brings many benefits to the patient.”
For patients with maxillofacial cancer, microsurgery is considered the "gold standard" for treatment. In surgery, the complete removal and prevention of cancerous tumor growth is crucial to saving the patient's life. However, radical surgical removal of the tumor leaves a significant facial defect, affecting the patient's ability to eat, speak, breathe, and their appearance.
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