News

A WORLD LEADER IN TEMPOROMANDIBULAR JOINT SURGERY PROFESSOR LOUIS MERCURI OPERATES AT LAKE MACQUARIE PRIVATE HOSPITAL

Feb 01, 2007

- reported in the Newcastle Morning Herald<br>
In February 2007, Lake Macquarie Private Hospital became the first Private Hospital in Australia to reconstruct a jaw joint using a custom-made prosthesis. The patient suffered from a condition called ankylosis where the movable part of the joint becomes fused to the base of the skull, causing restricted movement of the jaw. The patient had been unable to open her mouth more than a centimetre for the past 10 years.

Professor Mercuri inserted the prosthesis during a three hour operation.

Dr Michael Bowler, the patient’s local Maxillofacial Surgeon had removed the affected joint six weeks earlier and inserted a temporary silicone “spacer”. The jaw was immobilised by wire awaiting stage two of the operation. Dr Bowler had facilitated Professor Mercuri’s visit.