Rare Plastic Surgery Procedure
Rare Plastic Surgery Performed on African Teenager to Create an Ear and Reverse Facial Disfigurement
Thanks to probono facial surgery and services donated by Schneider Children’s Hospital(SCH), a 17-year-old orphan from Ghana, West Africa is gaining self-confidence and a getting a new start on life. (Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20070621/NYTH134A )
Adwoa Frimpomaah was referred to Andrew Jacono, MD, Section Head of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery at North Shore University Hospital, for surgery toreconstruct a new ear and repair facial scars. She was seriously injured ina pedestrian-car accident in Ghana in 2004 while walking to a nearbyvillage; the driver fled the scene and the accident was never investigated.The collision ripped off half of her scalp on the right side, leaving herwith no hair, massive scars on her right cheek and two-thirds of her rightear destroyed. Her legs were broken and her teeth knocked out. Following the accident, Adwoa spent four months in a Ghanese hospital,but because of the limited availability of medical and surgical care in herhomeland, facial reconstruction was out of the question. In July 2006,Adowa was put in touch with Dr. Jacono by a small American outreach group,Beyond Our Borders, based in St. James, NY and headed by Vic and JeanValente. Dr. Jacono is a participating volunteer surgeon with the nonprofitgroup. Adwoa lives with Mr. and Mrs. Valente, her sponsors.
Dr. Jacono and Schneider Children’s Hospital (SCH) waived the fees forthe 6 1/2-hour surgery, which took place in December 2006, one day beforeAdwoa’s 17th birthday. To reconstruct Adwoa’s ear, Dr. Jacono harvested her”floating rib” from her left rib cage and cartilage to create the rim ofher ear. Because of severe trauma to the skin on her scalp, Dr. Jacono performed a complex flap reconstructive procedure to cover the newframework of the ear and used a skin graft from Adwoa’s leg to cover thetop part of her ear. Dr. Jacono performed a second surgery in May, whichseparated the flap and created a natural groove behind her ear with anotherskin graft. He also performed a modified face lift to reduce facialscarring. “When Dr. Jacono approached Schneider Children’s Hospital about helpingAdwoa after her horrific accident, we did not hesitate to help her,” saidPhilip Lanzkowsky, MD, executive director of SCH. “Adwoa had already lostso much; the surgery was something tangible that we could provide to makeher life better. Improving the health and well-being of children is themission of the Children’s Hospital and it crosses all geographic andpolitical boundaries.” “Although Adwoa’s condition did not present any major functionaldisturbances, facial disfigurement is traumatic and psychological scars canlast a lifetime,” said Dr. Jacono. “The reconstructive surgery has restoredAdwoa’s self-esteem. She is like most teenagers — very self consciousabout her looks — and it is a great joy to see her happy again.” For more information see www.newyorkfacialplasticsurgery.com or www.northshorelij.com.
Posted by Dr Jacono at 3:00 AM