A bike chain is used to fix a woman's jaw.
A woman whose jaw had been severely damaged by cancer has had it rebuilt, and doctors used a “bicycle-style chain” to do it.
Surgeons removed a vein and skin from her arm to supply the reconstruction with tissue and a blood supply, and placed the titanium links around the reconstructed jaw.
Before undergoing the 12-hour surgery, she was warned that the procedure could result in death.
She went ahead anyway and said of the decision, “I had survived one cancer when my children were little and I wasn't going to let this one beat me.”
Jaw cancer can be difficult to detect because it shares symptoms with significantly less serious conditions.
Pain is among the leading indicators of a potentially serious problem like cancer, but it can also indicate a cavity, abscess, or an infection.
Similarly, cancerous growths can be mistaken for cysts.
The surgeons who performed the intricate operation applaud their patient’s dentist for suggesting she seek the attention of a specialist.
