Israeli Doctors Create New Jaw for Wounded Syrian

A wounded Syrian man arrived in Israel for treatment after a bullet had completely destroyed his lower jaw. In a groundbreaking operation, doctors outfitted him with a custom-made jaw.

Rambam Medical Center, Haifa (Photo: RHCC)

Rambam Medical Center in Haifa announced the use of a pioneering technique in which doctors implanted a titanium jaw in a wounded Syrian man.

According to a government press release, the 23-year-old had come to Israel for medical treatment. He was injured in the ongoing Syrian civil war and arrived at Rambam in critical condition. A bullet had completely destroyed his lower jaw, leaving him unable to speak or eat.

Utilizing cutting-edge 3D technology, doctors managed to create a new jaw, which was then printed on titanium.

Prof. Adi Rachmiel, director of Rambam’s department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, performed the groundbreaking operation with Dr. Yoav Leiser, who recently returned from training in Germany, where he specialized in restoring eye sockets, jaws and cheek bones.

Only a day after surgery, the Syrian patient was already eating and speaking.

The procedure, called Patient Specific Implant (PSI), allows doctors to create a jaw perfectly suited to the individual.

Since the patient had arrived with no medical records, there was nothing on which to base the structure of the new jaw, so doctors relied on statistical models.

Boy from Gaza treated recently at Rambam hospital. (Photo: RHCC)

“We succeeded in returning his human quality,” said Dr. Yoav Leiser, adding that the patient’s face had been torn, his jaw smashed and his bottom teeth blown out.

According to Rambam, due to this successful operation, three additional patients are scheduled to undergo similar innovative treatment.

Since the beginning of the Syrian civil war in the spring of 2011, Israel has spent over 40 million shekels treating thousands of injured Syrian civilians.  In February of 2013, Israel set up a field hospital near the border with Syria after having received a desperate plea for help from several wounded civilians.

Many of these civilians have been healed by the same medical professionals who treat IDF soldiers, and they receive quality medical care.  The more critical patients are transferred to Israeli hospitals throughout the country.

By: Atara Beck, World Israel News

Rambam Medical CenterSyrian Civil War