A man claims he has eaten solid food for the first time in his life – 38 years after his jaw was wedged shut when he fell on his face as a baby.
Rajendra Panchal, 39, from India, was just one when he fell on his face while walking, damaging and misplacing his jaw.
His parents were not able to get him treatment and his jaw reportedly fused in place, leaving him unable to open his mouth more than approximately 1.5cm.
For decades malnourished Mr Panchal existed on a liquid diet until he visited the dentists for toothache – and they couldn’t access his teeth.
Surgeons released the fused jaw joint – and now he can open his mouth 4.5cm wide, enough to eat and talk properly for the first time in his life.
Rajendra Panchal, 39, from India, was just one when he fell on his face while walking, damaging and misplacing his jaw. He was unable to open his mouth more than 1.5cm
His parents were not able to get him treatment and his jaw reportedly fused in place
Mr Panchal, from Pune in the state of Maharashtra, told local reporters: ‘I am now able to eat and talk like any normal person.’
Mr Panchal said he was often taunted for his deformity, and was unable to chew or eat solid food.
‘Our financial condition was such that we could not afford medical treatment,’ he said.
‘Also, I had to drop out of school after fourth grade due to our poor socio-economic status.’
Unable to bear a severe toothache in December last year, Mr Panchal visited the dentist.
He was diagnosed with ankylosis of the temporomandibular joint and Dr J B Garde performed the surgery for free on December 21.
Surgeons released the fused jaw joint – and now he can open his mouth 4.5cm wide, enough to eat and talk properly for the first time in his life
Mr Panchal, from Pune in the state of Maharashtra, told local reporters: ‘I am now able to eat and talk like any normal person’
Dr Garde said: ‘It is a rare case. Normally in such cases it is diagnosed and treated without much delay.
‘But, here, the patient has persisted with the condition for 38 years, making it even more extremely rare.
‘The procedure to release the fused skull bone is a complex one and post-operative physiotherapy sessions play a vital role for such patients.
‘There are also high chances of re-ankylosis in patients if they skip the physiotherapy sessions.
‘The surgery lasted more than four hours, during which his fused skull bone was released and we achieved a satisfactory opening in the mouth of 45 millimetres.’
He was diagnosed with ankyloses of the temporomandibular joint and Dr J B Garde performed the surgery for free on December 21
Dr Garde said: ‘It is a rare case. Normally in such cases it is diagnosed and treated without much delay’ (it is unsure if Dr Garde is pictured)
The surgery lasted more than four hours, during which his fused skull bone was released