Advanced reconstructive methods of maxillofacial trauma at the Barzilai medical center

Managing trauma and fractures of the maxillofacial region from missiles and shrapnels is very difficult and complicated because of the high-energy destruction that occurs to the bony and soft tissues.

Many injured soldiers and citizens suffered different types of complicated injuries to the maxillofacial region during the war. The injuries are caused by direct shooting and blast effects of explosive devices. The reconstructive procedures are always difficult and complicated due to the intense destruction of the tissues.

In order to overcome these difficulties, the surgeons of the maxillofacial unit used the three dimensional computerized option of the CT scan to build the simulated reconstruction and then print it on titanium slices. This method shortens the time of surgery, makes the reconstruction easy and perfect, the convalescence is speedy and the whole period of rehabilitation is easy.

Usually this method is used regularly to repair the bones after resection of malignancies, but this is the first time that the same method is used to reconstruct injuries from explosives.

The planning and printing of the reconstruction was done with the generous help of the maxillofacial unit at the Hagalil medical center in Naharya, which is one of the leading departments in the field of personalized computerized reconstruction.

The cooperation of the maxillofacial unit at the Galil medical center in Naharya with the unit at the Barzilai medical center was established by the former head of the maxillofacial unit at the Barzilai medical center, Prof Oded Nahlieli, and recently the head of the of the minimal invasive surgery at the Galil medical center in Naharya.

Prof Nahlieli, along with Prof Sammar Sarougy, the head of the maxillofacial unit at the Galil medical center, volunteered during the operation Iron Swords, to perform the complicated surgeries of reconstruction. Dr. Abramson Alex, the head of the maxillofacial unit at the Barzilai medical center assisted them during the operation.

Prof Hezy Levy, the CEO and head of the Barzilai medical center said that we succeeded to send all the CT scan images to the Galil medical center and to receive the printed titanium pieces within less than 24 hours. This was a very impressive achievement.