Maxillectomy is the surgical removal or resection of the maxilla or upper jaw bone, which can be total or partial.
Some facts about Maxillectomy:
- The surgical management of a various malignant as well as aggressive, benign neoplastic conditions, including squamous cell carcinoma, maxillary ameloblastoma, minor salivary gland tumors and many more can be done by Maxillectomy.
- The resection of the entire maxilla will be performed during a total maxillectomy.
- Only a partial resection, involving the removal of only the medial wall or the floor of the maxillary sinus is done during a limited maxillectomy.
- The main goal of Maxillectomy is to completely remove the tumor and to preserve function.
- Bleeding and infection, vision changes, complications due to anesthesia are some risks in a maxillectomy.
- Facial, neck, or shoulder weakness or numbness can result depending on the extent of tumor involvement which may be temporary or permanent.
- Watery eyes or an overflow of tears may occur due to surgical swelling. However, the watery eyes and tears generally subside as the swelling decreases.
- Cancer of the oral cavity, nasal cavity and/or maxillary sinuses can be treated by Maxillectomy
Preparation for Maxillectomy:
- Specific instructions such as when to arrive and food/drink restrictions will be received from your physician for how to appropriately prepare for the procedure.
- Medications containing aspirin or ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin IB, others) should be before and after surgery as these medications may increase bleeding.
- Stop smoking if you smoke as smoking can increase your risk of having problems during and after surgery and also can slow the healing process.
- General anesthesia will be used before the surgery to put you to sleep during the surgery.
Procedure for Maxillectomy:
- Some of the bone in your maxilla, part of the roof of your mouth and possibly some of your teeth will be removed during a Maxillectomy to remove the tumor and a margin of healthy tissue around it.
- A gap will be created in the roof of your mouth during the procedure which need to be sealed so that you can speak and swallow.
- The part of the maxilla that is next to the nose will be removed through either a surgical cut on the face or by using tools through the nostril in a medial maxillectomy. Usually, reconstructive surgery is not needed in this type of surgery.
- The hard palate which is the roof of the mouth, lower part of the maxilla, and teeth will be removed in case of a infrastructure maxillectomy. The removal of the orbital floor is not required. But, reconstructive surgery is needed in this type of surgery.
- The upper part of the maxilla and orbital floor which is the bone below eye will be removed in suprastructure maxillectomy. The orbit (bone around eye) may be left in place in some cases. Reconstructive surgery is needed due to the removal of the eye.
- Only part of the maxilla will be removed using one of the above procedures in subtotal maxillectomy.
- The entire maxilla on one side, as well as the hard palate and orbital floor will be removed during a total maxillectomy. Reconstructive surgery along with prosthetics, will be often needed after this surgery.
