Tuan

Tuan is a 37-year-old man who was injured four years ago. He fractured his right mandible in two places (in the condyle and body of his lower jaw). This severe injury that triggered overgrowth of bone at the injury site. This process caused the temporomandibular joint (TMJ, or "jaw joint") to fuse, or grow together. This fusion prevented him from opening his mouth for the past three years, trapping his partial denture in his mouth and keeping him from eating solid food during this time.

On April 13, 2010 at the Odontomaxillofacial Hospital in Ho Chi Minh City, Dr. Randy Robinson performed an ankylosis release. He cut through the large bony tumor which allowed free movement of Tuan's right TMJ once again. In an attempt to address this tumor in previous years the Vietnamese surgeons had placed a silastic (silicone) implant at the injury site. After the joint release, Dr. Robinson removed the silastic implant and a very significant amount of excessive bone, put in a rib graft in place of the abnormal bone, and placed titanium bone plates and screws to hold the rib graft in position with the mandible. He also took out the partial denture, much in need of cleaning after being stuck in place for three years. This surgery took about four hours.

Tuan was so thankful for the outcome of his surgery. He could speak with greater ease, once again able to open and close his mouth. Soon he would be eating solid foods also. He wanted his photo taken with Dr. Robinson four days after his surgery, a ready, broad smile on his face.