Dubai: Filipino expat, 40, gets cricket ball-sized jaw tumour fixed using leg bone

Dubai: A 40-year-old Filipino expat, Jesy Garcia Basilio, has had a cricket ball-sized jaw tumour successfully removed and reconstructed the damaged jaw using his leg bone in a groundbreaking procedure at a Dubai hospital.

The rare, non-cancerous tumour, called Ameloblastoma, had grown to 8 cm, causing significant discomfort and impacting his quality of life.

Garcia, who had been living with the condition for eight years, noticed the tumour’s rapid growth in the last six months, which caused severe pain and difficulty eating, drinking, and speaking. The tumour’s deformity left him with a disfigured jaw, further affecting his daily life.

After enduring months of discomfort, he sought medical help at Aster Hospital Mankhool, where a multidisciplinary team led by Dr Renju Prem, Specialist in Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, and Dr Rajkumar Ramachandran, Consultant in Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, devised a treatment plan to restore his jaw function and appearance.

Rare and asymptomatic

The doctors said Ameloblastoma is a rare and often asymptomatic disease that accounts for approximately one per cent of all oral tumours, with a global incidence of just 0.5 cases per million people per year, primarily occurring in regions such as India, Africa, and China.

The surgeons opted for an advanced technique called microvascular fibula flap reconstruction, which involved removing the damaged portion of Garcia’s jaw and replacing it with a section of bone from his leg to maintain both functional contour and the aesthetics of the face. The fibula, a straight bone, was carefully shaped to fit the curvature of the jaw, and its blood vessels were connected to the blood vessels in Garcia’s neck to ensure proper healing. The important technique was cutting the straight fibula in a manner similar to the jawbone, without disturbing its blood supply and fixed to the remaining part of the jaw using plates and screws, the doctors explained.

Meticulous planning, execution

The procedure was meticulously planned and executed, followed by months of post-operative care including intensive monitoring in the ICU and regular follow-ups to ensure proper recovery. The patient’s recovery has been marked by the restoration of his ability to eat, drink, and speak without discomfort, significantly improving his overall quality of life, the hospital said.

Expressing his gratitude, Basilio said: “I cannot thank Dr Renju Prem, Dr Rajkumar Ramachandran, and the entire team enough. Their expertise and care have given me my life back. I had been living with this condition for so long, and the pain and changes to my appearance were devastating. Today, I feel like myself again, and I am forever grateful to the team for their support and exceptional care.”