The University of Florida Division of Maxillofacial Surgery now offers patients a procedure known as microvascular surgery at Shands Jacksonville.
“Fernandes adds a whole new dimension to our maxillofacial surgery team,” said Barry Steinberg, M.D., a UF associate professor and division chief of maxillofacial surgery.
This innovative procedure performed by Rui Fernandes, M.D., a UF assistant professor of surgery, involves using bone and soft tissue from other areas of the body to accomplish facial reconstruction.
“He’s taking the microvascular free flap procedure commonly used with patients suffering from head and neck cancer and applying it to facial trauma reconstruction,” said Steinberg. “This innovative procedure improves the patients’ results and reduces the time needed for reconstruction and recovery.”
Twenty-four-year-old Victor Gutierrez recently underwent a microvascular free flap after losing the side of his face when someone broke into his house and shot him. His recovery time was remarkable. In two weeks, Gutierrez was able to leave Shands Jacksonville with a reconstructed face.
Fernandes explained, “In Victor’s case, the gunshot destroyed most of the left side of his face, including his upper lip.”
Fernandes used the microvascular procedure in the form of a fibula free flap to reconstruct his upper jaw and cheek bone, as well bring soft tissue to reconstruct the inside of his mouth. He reformed his upper lip with a cross-lip flap, by borrowing from his lower lip and inserting it into his upper lip.
“Victor and his family are elated so far with the outcome of his initial surgery, but they realize he still has a long road ahead before his reconstruction is complete,” Fernandes said.
Gutierrez’s case demonstrates the benefits of the microvascular surgery. Fernandes was able to repair the devastating injury in one 10 to 12 hour surgery.
“I looked in the mirror yesterday and I realized that I’ve suffered a major blow, but, Dr. Fernandes is good,” explained Gutierrez. “God is guiding him. He’s amazing. He told me not to worry and that he would get me back to the way I was before. When it’s all said and done, I will be a better man having gone through this.”