The dental surgeons at the Krishna Institute of Medical Sciences (KIMS) have performed a complex, two-stage laser operation on an oral cancer patient who had difficulty in opening his mouth.

The unique procedure was performed using laser technology to remove fibrosis (formation of excess fibrous connective tissue).

The surgery was planned in two stages. The first stage was performed using dental lasers at the angle of the mouth and about 5mm of the mouth opening was achieved. The site was then evaluated to check for blood supply to the previously operated areas. Later the second stage of the surgery was performed to split the graft. The procedure was completed within a span of 20 minutes and the mouth opening of the two finger width was achieved.

“We performed a bloodless, suture-less, and painless surgery on the patient who was unable to open his mouth for the past ten months,” said Dr Prasad, head of the dental department at KIMS.

Earlier, the 47-year old patient J Gnaneshwar had a history of carcinoma of lower buccal mucosa (oral cancer) and had undergone surgery in October last year. The carinomatous area was removed during the surgery and graft material from thigh was placed along with the blood supply for vascularisarion. The patient then noticed his inability to open his mouth after surgery. When he consulted the concern doctor, he was advised to use a metal screw gauge and a set of oral exercises to facilitate opening of the mouth.

However, the patient could not find any relief. In fact he had difficulty in opening the mouth and could not take solid food for the past ten months. Though he had approached several hospitals in the city, none of them could offer any hope.

Finally, the doctors a KIMS dental wing took the case as a big challenge and with the suggestions and guidance of oral cancer specialist Dr Prathyusha, could diagnose the exact cause of the problem and performed the successful laser operation offering a great relief for the grieving patient.

“On oral examination, fibrosis was observed at the angle of the mouth which was hard on palpation. The patient was then advised to stop the use of the metal screw gauge and was advised to undergo laser fibrectomy to relieve fibrosis,” said Dr Prathyusha.

“upon verifying the patients case we decided to treat the patient with dental lasers, since any other mode of surgery would not be beneficial to the patient as he had already undergone the trauma of an invasive surgery,” added Dr Prasad.