A Detailed Insight Of Partial Mandibulectomy Surgery & Its Outcomes

As per the procedure's name, you can guess that something will be removed partially. This procedure is made for dealing with oral cancers that affect the mandible. Moreover, partial mandibulectomy is necessary for animals dealing with an oral fracture. And it is the last option or the best alternative treatment for oral fractures that cannot be dealt with any other oral surgical procedures. Keep in mind that the total mandibulectomy involves the removal of the entire jaw and should not be confused with the partial one.

Procedure Of Partial Mandibulectomy

 

• If the animal, including dogs, cats, rabbits, etc., have cancer, this procedure is necessary, but before that, it requires stabilization of the patient.
• Once the animal is stable, the medical practitioner will give anesthesia.
• The surgeon will evaluate the crucial portion to be removed. Besides, identifying all the fractures and tumors is the next step. Also, the surgeon will be outlining the portions that should be removed.
• Further, the surgeon will x-ray the portion that needs to be eradicated.
• The surgeon should remove one or two teeth for having the completed access on the portion of the mandible that requires exclusion.
•  Next, the skin around the jaw will be clipped before rinsing the mouth with the antiseptic solution.
• The dog should be intubated, and to absorb the bleeding, the surgeon will place the gauze sponges.
• Next, the surgeon should choose to inject the local anesthesia into the oral tumor/ cavity.
• In the gum tissue, two incisions will be made to remove the cavity and gain complete access to the bone.
• Then, the surgeon will eradicate the affected area of the bone. Plus, the edges of the mandible will be evened to prevent irritation and discomfort.
• The surgeon will be ensuring that all tumors will be removed and the wound is closed with the dissolvable sutures into three or four layers.
• The animal will be monitored and kept in the hospital. Also, they cannot eat anything for the whole day.

Effectiveness Of The Surgical Procedure

The partial mandibulectomy procedure is considered a reliable treatment for oral cancers. The animal will start feeling relieved from the pain. Even the owners of the pets said that it is effective enough to enhance the animal's quality of life. 
And the best part? The partial mandibulectomy is ideal for benign tumors. However, this surgical procedure should treat dogs that suffer from aggressive malignant cancers. Nevertheless, there are chances that some kinds of cancers, including malignant cancers, squamous cell carcinoma, particularly melanoma, can recur after this surgical procedure.

Recovery

The animal will be recovering from the partial mandibulectomy within 3 to 4 days. Likewise, the animal needs to wear an Elizabethan collar to prevent irritation during the surgery. The animal can have a severe infection; then, the doctor will recommend some antibiotics and anti-inflammatory medicines to provide quick postoperative recovery. 
Additionally, injectable analgesics are given to the animals to take care of them and prevent postoperative pain after a few days of the surgery. After the surgery, the pet owner should feed them with soft food. The hard objects of food should be given at least after a month. More than that, the pet will be struggling to drink water or eat food after a few days of the surgery.
In dogs, the increased production of saliva is a common issue. However, the patients learn to retract the tongue in a normal position after one or two weeks. Similarly, the postoperative period is tough for the animals, and they can mess with water and food. Thus, there is no need to solve such postoperative problems without or with additional treatments.
Most importantly, the pet should follow up the appointment within 10 to 14 days after the surgical procedure. The doctor will be monitoring the healing process and ensure that the condition of oral cancer is not reoccurring.

Cost Of The Procedure

The entire cost of the procedure can vary due to the additional costs, including the medications, supportive care as well as screenings. The cost can range up to 1200 to 6000 dollars, but the average is 2,510 dollars.

Some Essential Considerations

Indeed, the success rate of mandibulectomy is high, but two complications can occur. For instance, the first one includes the development of palatal occlusal trauma that can occur in the mouth's delicate tissues. This condition will resolve independently, and it is not a serious condition. Nonetheless, it will continue to affect the eating ability of the dog to function properly. On the other hand, the second potential complication is wound rupture.

Prevention Of The Disease

Undoubtedly, it is tough to prevent oral tumors and cancers because they occur spontaneously. Therefore, the owners of the pets should not allow them to engage in activities that can result in an oral fracture. For instance, dogs, cats, rabbits, and other animals face right and left mandibles. In addition, the mandible symphysis occurs in the fibrous union.

Final Thought

All in all, the surgical results of partial mandibulectomy are favorable for the pets and their owners. Therefore, if your pet faces mandibular fractures, necrotic local tissues or infection, and non-union healing of the oral fractures. Contact the veterinarian as soon as possible to ensure a healthy state and better quality of life for your pet. Thanks for visiting us!