Dr.Satish c- Surgical Oncologist in bangalore
Maxillectomy (Partial/Total)
Maxillectomy is a surgical procedure that refers to the removal of the upper part of the jaw bone (maxilla).
Maxillectomy (Partial/Total)
Overview
Maxillectomy is recommended as a surgical intervention for the treatment of cancers of the nasal cavity, oral cavity, and maxillary sinuses (a hollow space in the bones that surround the nose). This procedure’s main objective is to thoroughly remove the tumor.
More about Maxillectomy (Partial/Total)
There are different types of maxillectomy depending on the stage of the disease and the exact location of the tumor:
- Medial Maxillectomy: This procedure involves the removal of a part of the bone close to the nose. Both the hard palate and the eye are retained. This procedure is primarily recommended for nasal tumors.
- Infrastructure Maxillectomy: The bottom part of the maxilla, the teeth, and the hard palate are removed during this procedure. The orbital floor remains intact. An obturator or a free flap will be used for the reconstruction of the jaw portion removed.
- Superstructure Maxillectomy: The hard palate remains unaffected during this procedure. Along with the upper portion of the bone, the orbital floor is removed too. This procedure is followed by reconstructive surgery.
- Subtotal Maxillectomy: This procedure also removes various portions of the upper jaw; however, the entire bone is not removed. Depending on the tumor location and the degree of excision, reconstructive surgery will be planned.
- Total Maxillectomy: The hard palate, orbital floor, and the entire bone on one side of the face will be removed during this procedure. Reconstructive surgery is recommended after this procedure.
How is Maxillectomy Performed?
An open incision is necessary in order to access the maxilla bone during a maxillectomy. Minimally invasive approaches are available for medial maxillectomy only.
Depending on the location of the tumor, the surgeon may begin the surgery by creating an incision through the upper jaw, along the lip, or along the nose. This allows the surgeon to gain access to the surgical area and be able to remove the tumor and the surrounding bones.
Reconstructive surgery is then performed to preserve the facial structure after some or all of the maxilla bones are removed. For this, healthy tissue from another area of the patient’s body is removed and used to reconstruct the maxilla region.
Frequently Asked Questions
Patients won’t experience any pain during the surgery since the procedure will be performed under general anesthesia. Following surgery, patients will experience some pain in the operated area. This pain will be routinely assessed by the nurses, who will administer painkillers as required.
Possible risks of maxillectomy include bleeding, infection, numbness, vision changes, ear congestion, blood clots, watery eyes, hematoma, nerve damage, difficulties with swallowing and speech. Most of these side effects or risks are temporary and improve over time.
This depends on the type of mandibulectomy you’ve undergone. The hospital stay may vary between 2 – 7 days. It may take anywhere from weeks to months for you to completely recover. In some cases, patients experience difficulties related to speech and swallowing. In such cases, patients can opt for rehabilitation care, which supports faster recovery.
This depends on how much of the upper jaw is removed during the surgery. If only a small portion of the jaw is removed, then reconstruction may not be necessary. However, if a large portion or the entire upper jaw is removed, then reconstructive surgery becomes necessary.
This depends on the type of maxillectomy you have undergone. In the cases where patients lose their orofacial muscles or have problems with their oronasal opening, speech and swallowing difficulties can be seen after the surgery. In these cases, speech and swallowing therapy can help them in understanding different approaches to regain the ability to eat, chew, swallow, and speak.
Dr. Satish C is the best surgeon for maxillectomy in Bangalore. He has over 7 years of experience in the surgical management of head and neck cancers.