Brit woman can walk again after surgeon uses hip bone part to rebuild jaw

A British woman was able to walk again after her jaw, which was damaged by a tumor, was rebuilt using a hip bone part.

In a news report from DailyMail, Samantha Levy discovered a mass located in her jaw with the help of a dental x-ray when she had her usual dental appointment.

Levy had no clue her jaw was being decayed away until the tumor was inadvertently seen by her dentist. She was then referred to see her medical doctor for further check-ups.

Her biopsy, which was revealed in December 2019, revealed that she had a rare tumor called an odontogenic myxoma.

The tumor, according to the National Center for Biotechnology Information, could be an accidental finding or may show symptoms including tooth mobility, paresthesia, and toothache.

Studies have warned that the tumor could cause functional, aesthetic, and emotional complications to the patients if the tumor was diagnosed at a later time. It could have caused Levy's face to drop on one side, also.

Levy was shocked upon learning the results as there had no indications that the tumor was gradually eating the left side of her jaw.

Healthcare specialists then conducted a series of surgery to Levy, including an 11-hour procedure that created a massive gap in Levy's hip bone to fix her jaw.

The hipbone restoration included bone grafting and the installation of implants and prostheses. The patient's jaw and five teeth were also removed and inserted a wire and metal plate to keep the rest of her jaw together. The wire and metal plate were eventually removed on her final operation.

After the operation, Levy was left handicapped for five weeks while gradually regaining her capability to walk. To restore her ability to walk normally, she was additionally required to have physiotherapy every day for about a month.

Levy was also told it could take at least a year of using a walking stick to build her strength again. 

She disclosed to DailyMail that she was petrified as a result of the length of the operations. She added she struggled to sleep and lost her appetite in the long process. 

"I realized at that point there's no literature, nothing out there for such a rare tumor," she said.

After recovering, Levy is conducting a fundraising activity for Guy's and St. Thomas' by trekking the Great Wall of China for seven to eight hours per day for a week.

She explained that it was something she have always wanted to do as a way of saying 'thank you' to her surgeons after her enormous operation. 

While admitting that she was not particularly fit or active before, Levy added that her situation gave her a chance to start a new life in her 30s and to start taking care of herself.

Luke Cascarini, a consultant surgeon in the hospital, told DailyMail he was grateful that Levy wants to support Guy's and St. Thomas through that initiative.

The surgeon noted that Levy's positive attitude shone through during everything that she experienced, so he realized the trek would be another thing she would overcome.