Alberto Rocha Pereira , the director of the Services of Plastic Surgery at Hospital da Luz Lisboa and Hospital da Luz Torres de Lisboa, performed, last November 26, a facial reconstructive surgery to a patient with sequels from treatment to a malignant tumour in the face. In the operation, performed at HL Torres de Lisboa, it was used for the first time a novel distraction device to elongate the facial bones for mandibular reconstruction. Besides collaborating in the development and pre-clinical testing of this distraction device, Alberto Rocha Pereira was also the first European surgeon and one of the first in the whole world to use it. The surgery consisted in the complex reconstruction of a facial defect in a patient, after the removal of a malignant tumour and radiotherapy. The severe deformation and asymmetry of the face caused in this patient the inability to open her mouth, swallow and chew. After reconstruction of the upper jaw with a microvascular transplantation of bone and muscle from the scapula, last year, at Hospital da Luz Lisboa, the patient was now operated in this final stage of treatment for mandibular reconstruction. This new distractor now available in Portugal includes important innovations that allow higher safety and surgical precision, in this type of facial deformities. The whole planning of the intervention was done resorting to technology of virtual surgical simulation, enabling to use implants produced by 3D printing, customized to the patient, which contributes to prevent operatory complications and allows a better recovery. It was also established a significant reduction of the operative and anaesthesia periods, with a decisive impact on the reduction of pain and better welfare in the post-operative period. The patient is recovering well and the correction of the facial deformity is expected to have an important impact, in terms of functional capacities and of quality of life.
