MUSC Hollings Cancer Center performs ‘Jaw in a Day’ for cancer survivor

A multidisciplinary team at MUSC Hollings Cancer Center performed a successful ‘Jaw in a Day’ procedure on a patient with a history of head and neck cancer.

This intricate procedure involves creating a new jawbone from a portion of the fibula, inserting implants and teeth into the fibula, and then connecting the new jawbone to existing, healthy bone. This is believed to be the first ‘Jaw in a Day’ performed in South Carolina for a cancer survivor.

The difference between ‘Jaw in a Day’ and standard procedure is that a ‘Jaw in a Day’ patient wakes up after surgery with a full set of teeth. Patients would otherwise have to wait months for a second procedure to get their teeth.

Head and neck cancer surgeon W. Greer Albergotti, M.D., noted that people who have been through cancer treatment sometimes get to the point where they simply don’t want to go through any more procedures. Being able to offer the entire procedure in one day makes it more likely that patients will have a good cosmetic outcome and better long-term functional outcome.

“Humans are very adaptable,” he said. “Most people learn to accept the new normal and are OK with most things. I think part of our job as physicians is to see what could be and try to maximize what people can get out of their reconstruction even if they would potentially be happy with less.”

Additional members of the multidisciplinary team were head and neck cancer surgeon Evan Graboyes, M.D., and maxillofacial prosthodontist Byung Joo Lee, D.D.S.