Dr Ben Moodie

22/05/2026

🦷🩺 Inferior maxillary reconstruction by

This patient presented with a rare 💥 mucoepidermoid carcinoma involving the lower maxilla on both sides. The tumour required a total inferior maxillectomy bilaterally— removing the hard palate and sub-total soft palate, leaving a major defect affecting speech, swallowing, eating and separation between the mouth and nose.

🔬 Reconstruction was performed using an ALT free flap (anterolateral thigh free flap) to recreate the palate and restore important function. The flap also provided enough soft tissue bulk while preserving a nasal airway opening for breathing 👃

🦷 Bilateral zygomatic implants were placed at the same operation for future dental rehabilitation and improved long-term quality of life.

Why this reconstruction matters👇
✅ Helps restore swallowing and speech
✅ Prevents food and fluid passing into the nose
✅ Restores separation between oral and nasal cavities
✅ Improves breathing and airway support
✅ Allows future dental rehabilitation
✅ Helps patients return to normal daily activities and social interaction

⚠️ What patients should look out for:
• Persistent mouth ulcers or swelling
• Loose teeth without explanation
• Nasal regurgitation of food/liquids
• Facial swelling or numbness
• Difficulty swallowing or speaking
• Unexplained bleeding or pain

These complex reconstructions combine cancer surgery, microsurgery and rehabilitation to restore both form and function 🧠

assisted me🦾
🎥 by

18/05/2026

Skin and bones cradled in a metal cage
…. Fighting to survive
…. Hanging by a thread
…. Lets pull it through 😎

17/05/2026

🦴🔬 FREE FIBULA FLAP FOR SEGMENTAL MANDIBLE RECONSTRUCTION 🇿🇦

This detailed case shows a complex microvascular reconstruction following resection of a mandibular squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). The diseased segment of jawbone was removed and reconstructed using a free fibula flap harvested from the leg.

Performed by 👨‍⚕️

⚙️ WHAT MAKES THIS SURGERY SPECIAL?
The fibula flap is regarded worldwide as the gold standard for rebuilding the jaw because it provides:
✔️ Strong vascularized bone
✔️ Reliable blood supply
✔️ Adequate bone length for shaping
✔️ Potential for future dental rehabilitation
✔️ Soft tissue for lining and coverage when needed

🔍 THE TECHNICAL PROCESS:
🦵 The fibula bone and its blood vessels (the peroneal vascular bundle) were meticulously dissected under magnification to preserve the flap’s blood supply.

📏 Precise measurements were then taken before performing multiple osteotomies (controlled bone cuts) to recreate the natural contour of the mandible.

🛠️ Unlike many modern reconstructions that use expensive 3D planning software and custom cutting guides, this reconstruction was performed FREE HAND using surgical judgement, anatomical understanding, and intraoperative precision.

That means:
▪️ The bone cuts
▪️ Jaw contouring
▪️ Segment shaping
▪️ Alignment
▪️ Final inset

…were all done manually in theatre without pre-fabricated guides 🤯

🎯 This requires:
✔️ Advanced spatial planning
✔️ Experience in craniofacial reconstruction
✔️ Precise flap design
✔️ Accurate bony alignment
✔️ Technical microvascular expertise

🦴 Once transferred to the face, the fibula underwent further shaping and burring to achieve a snug fit with maximal bone-to-bone contact between segments — a critical factor for healing and long-term strength.

🔩 The bone was then drilled to allow rigid fixation of the fibula segments to the reconstruction plate using titanium screws.

🔬 Finally, microvascular anastomosis was performed — reconnecting tiny arteries and veins under the microscope to restore blood flow to the transferred bone and soft tissue

16/05/2026

Halfway in….. flap is ready for transfer😎

11/05/2026

🦷🎗️RECENT CASE: ORAL CANCER RESECTION AND RECONSTRUCTION BY Dr Evan Rabie and

This patient presented with an aggressive intraoral cancer involving the LEFT buccal mucosa (inner cheek lining) as well as the LEFT alveolar ridge of the mandible (jaw bone supporting the teeth).

📋 Histology confirmed the diagnosis as a Squamous Cell Carcinoma (SCC) — the most common type of oral cavity cancer.

This complex case was performed together with Dr. Evan Rabie, who performed:
🔹 Tumour resection
🔹 Left neck nodal dissection

🧠 Pre-operatively, the plan was to perform a SEGMENTAL mandibulectomy (removing a full section of jaw bone). However, during surgery we found that the tumour infiltration into the mandible was limited to only a few millimetres.

➡️ This allowed us to preserve mandibular continuity and perform a MARGINAL mandibulectomy instead — removing only the involved upper portion of the jaw while maintaining strength and function of the mandible.

For reconstruction, we selected a 🩺 Radial Forearm Free Flap (RFFF). This flap provides:
✔️ Thin, flexible tissue
✔️ Reliable blood supply
✔️ Excellent contour for intraoral reconstruction
✔️ Healthy soft tissue coverage over exposed mandible

The flap was used to reconstruct both:
🔹 The alveolar mucosa
🔹 Adjacent buccal mucosa

🙏 The patient recovered well post-operatively.

👨‍⚕️ Assisted by Dr. Heinrich

🎥 Video by Milané

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💡 EDUCATIONAL TIPS:

🚩 Warning signs of oral cancer may include:
• Mouth ulcers that do not heal
• Pain or bleeding in the mouth
• Loose teeth
• Difficulty swallowing
• A lump in the neck
• White or red patches inside the mouth

⚠️ Major risk factors:
• Smoking
• Alcohol use
• HPV infection
• Excessive sun exposure (lip cancers)

🦷 Early diagnosis dramatically improves outcomes.

03/05/2026

Op 7 April het dr. Ben Moodie, plastiese en rekonstruktiewe chirurg, geskiedenis gemaak met ’n eksperimentele operasie wat moontlik ’n deurbraak vir demensielyers kan wees. Die prosedure is nog net in vyf lande gedoen en was die eerste in Afrika, sê hy aan Hanlie Retief. Dit het dié oud-Boksbu...

03/05/2026

01/05/2026

🧠✨ RECENT CASE: Complex Oral Cancer Reconstruction

This patient presented with a squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) inside the mouth — in the left retromolar trigone (just behind the last molar).

👉 A difficult area to treat because it’s:
• Deep and hard to access 🔍
• Close to critical structures ⚠️
• Essential for speech & swallowing 🗣️🍽️

⸻

🛠️ The Approach

A true team effort 💪

• Mandible split (jaw split) to access the tumour
• Cancer resection + neck dissection
Performed by Dr Johann Kluge & Prof Jan Pretorius

⸻

🔬 Reconstruction:

After removing the cancer, we reconstructed the area using a:
👉 Radial forearm free flap

Why this works so well:
• Thin & flexible — ideal for inside the mouth ✅
• Reliable blood supply ✅
• Helps restore speech and swallowing ✅

⸻

🚀 Why this matters

This is more than cancer removal — it’s about:
• Restoring quality of life 😊
• Preserving function 🔁
• Helping patients return to normal life

💬 If something feels abnormal in your mouth — don’t ignore it.
Early detection saves lives.

Assisting Doctor: Dr Heinrich Jv Rensburg

🎥:

25/12/2025

Recent Head and Neck Cancer Reconstruction Case By Dr. Moodie | South Africa 🇿🇦
––––––––––––––
• Procedures performed
🦠 Removal of advanced squamous cell carcinoma
👅 Total tongue removal
👄 Removal of the floor of the mouth
🗣️ Removal of the voice box due to tumor spread
🦠 Removal of cancerous lymph nodes in the neck
🦵 Reconstruction using tissue from the thigh
––––––––––––––
This patient presented with a very aggressive squamous cell carcinoma involving the entire tongue. The cancer had spread into the floor of the mouth and extended back toward the epiglottis, which plays a key role in swallowing and airway protection 🧠👅

Because the tumor was so extensive, saving the patient’s life required removal of the entire tongue and floor of the mouth. A total laryngectomy was also necessary, meaning the voice box had to be removed to completely eliminate the cancer 🩺⚠️

During surgery, cancer margins were checked in real time under a microscope to make sure all cancer cells were removed before reconstruction began 🔬✅

Reconstruction was performed using the patient’s own tissue taken from the thigh. This included skin and muscle to rebuild the tongue, floor of mouth, and the front part of the throat. This allows the patient to heal properly and regain essential functions like swallowing 💪🦵➡️

Despite the severity of the disease and the complexity of the surgery, the patient recovered well 🙏

This is the power of modern reconstructive surgery and multidisciplinary cancer care in South Africa 🌍✨

If this case educated you, please share it with friends and family 📲
Follow for more real world reconstructive surgery cases 🩺🔥
📸: Milane