Face Surgery Is Challengiing In Surgical Field

Professor of Surgery, College of Medicine, University of Lagos, Prof. Godwin Arotiba, says  the Mouth, Jaw and Face (MJF) surgeries were the most challenging surgical fields in Nigeria.

Arotiba said this at an inaugural lecture entitled: “The Society, Ivory Tower, Mouth, Jaw and Face Surgery in a Developing Economy.”

“It is the most challenging field because of the recurrence of jaw tumor in less-privileged Nigerians.

“That is why we want to launch a foundation called “Ameloblastoma and Facial Foundation” so that we can have advanced equipment to reconstruct and rehabilitate the jaw.”

Acording to him, Ameloblastoma, a benign tumor is most common in Nigeria and it destroys the jaw.

“Non-governmental organisations are invited to collaborate with us in our quest to midwife the non-profit foundation with the goal of saving the mouths and jaws of poor Nigerians with jaw tumors.”

The professor said that the reconstruction of lower jaw defects was one of the most challenging operations that a surgeon could encounter.

“A good aesthetic outcome must be achieved. The ideal system for lower jaw reconstruction is yet to be developed.”

He, therefore, recommended an integrated (more medical training during dental sciences phase) residency training that would allow a long, more productive and operating career by Nigerian MJF surgeons.

“The specialty exists to serve the public; therefore, its controlling motive should be to shape its training and practice to serve the public more effectively,” Arotiba said.