In June 2015, Frank Graewe, a renowned reconstructive and micro-surgeon, teamed up with the World Craniofacial Foundation and Smile Foundation SA to perform life changing surgery for two young girls who suffered serious skull defects. Almost a year later, both girls are back in South Africa for their final surgery.
Grace, an eight-year-old from Zambia, received ground-breaking surgery last year at Tygerberg Hospital to correct a major skull defect by utilising 3D technology and bioengineered bone. The surgical team included USA based Dr Ken Salyer, the Chairman of the World Craniofacial Foundation – who travelled to South Africa to work together with the local team.
Ten months post the completed bone graft, CT scans show that there is bone regeneration on her skull – a positive sign that the bioengineered bone is doing its job. “We usually expect the full bone regeneration to take about two years, so we are very positive about Grace’s progress so far”, says Graewe.
Grace’s second surgery took place on the 12th of April and involved reconstructive surgery to correct the placement of Grace’s eye-sockets and her nose. “Grace’s condition resulted in her eyes being too far apart, we corrected this and also reconstructed her nose by using cartilage harvested from her ribcage” says Graewe, “we’re very happy with her results and we don’t expect that any more surgeries will be needed for Grace at this stage”.
Akikere, a seven-year-old from Nigeria, suffers from Crouzon Syndrome and before her surgery last year, she suffered from right-side heart failure as a result of the respiratory problems often seen in Crouzon cases. In 2015, Graewe and Salyer detached Akikere’s mid-face and forehead from the skull, and implanted “distractors”, which would gradually push her face forward over time and therefore assist her breathing problems.
Ten months later, not only have Akikere’s distractors have been removed, she is also now off all heart medication and her paediatric cardiologist says that her heart condition has clinically subsided.
“The opportunity to work with the South African team on these two cases has been an absolute godsend and a pleasure.” Says Dr Salyer. “The co-operation between the World Craniofacial Foundation team and the South African surgeons, lead by Dr Graewe, has resulted in excellent results. Both of our young patients are doing well and the joint effort between the teams has been life-saving for our patients, and a great learning opportunity for all the surgeons involved.”
To make a donation to the Smile Foundation SA please visit their website: www.smilefoundationsa.org and for the WCF, please go online to www.worldcf.org.za
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