Two young patients are now able to smile thanks to the efforts of a team of surgeons from the Smile Foundation, UKZN and Inkosi Albert Luthuli Central Hospital.
The patients, both from Gauteng, underwent life-changing surgery at Inkosi Albert Luthuli Central Hospital during Smile Facial Reanimation Week. The surgery was performed by Dr George Psaras, the Medical Director of the Smile Foundation, who was invited by Professor Anil Madaree, Head of the Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery at UKZN who is based at the hospital. Psaras flew in from Europe especially for the occasion. This was also an excellent learning opportunity for Registrars (up and coming surgeons) and Consultants (plastic surgeons) from four universities, including UKZN, who observed the surgery.
Moebius Syndrome is a complex congenital facial anomaly that affects multiple cranial nerves, resulting in weakening or paralysis of the muscles in the face. Children with the syndrome are unable to move one or both sides of their face. To alleviate this, surgeons harvest a specific weight and size of the gracilis muscle in one of the thighs, and transfer it to the affected side of the face to join the masseter nerve in the cheek. Microsurgical attachment of the artery vein and nerve then takes place with the masseter muscle. In time, the nerve grows together and the patient is able to use the muscle in the affected area, resulting in improved facial expression. Due to its rarity (researchers estimate incidence at between 0.0005% and 0.002% of all live births), few surgeons have the necessary skills to assist children born with Moebius.
“Dr Psaras is one of only a handful of surgeons working in South Africa who can perform this surgery. …. As far as we know, this procedure has not yet been performed in any public or private hospital in KwaZulu-Natal, pointing to the dire need for these skills in this province,” explained Moira Gerszt, Operations Executive Director of the Smile Foundation.
Seven-year-old Boithumelo from Brakpan North, and eight-year-old Diseko from Potchefstroom were operated on over a four-day period, following which they were treated in high care.
While the surgery is not high-risk, it is very difficult to locate the masseter nerve in the cheek. This calls for precision and concentration and requires two teams of surgeons; one to harvesting the gracilis muscle and another to work on the face.
“As always, we wish to thank our generous sponsors and all the people involved in contributing to this important initiative. Thank you to the Victor Daitz Foundation for the vital funding that made this week possible, and a special thank you to the Senior Consultant, Dr Mahendra Daya, for his support in putting together this programme,” said Gerszt.
