Inkosi Albert Luthuli Central Hospital invites Smile Foundation to conduct inaugural Smile Facial Reanimation Week

Moebius Syndrome is a complex congenital neurological disorder that can affect multiple cranial nerves. When the 7th cranial nerve, called the facial nerve is affected there is paralysis of the muscles that bring about all facial movements. It is a rare disorder with an incidence of 1 in 50 000 of all live births in USA.

There are no statistics for South Africa. Due to its rarity, few surgeons are exposed to or have shown an interest in treating this condition. Dr George Psaras, as the Medical Director of the Smile Foundation, has been growing South Africa's capabilities by undertaking skill exchange programmes in various academic centres of excellence. This year he will be visiting the Inkosi Albert Luthuli Central Hospital in Durban during the forthcoming week to perform this complex procedure on two young patients from Gauteng and also deliver lectures on the topic.

"Professor Anil Madaree, head of the Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery at the University of KZN Natal based at Inkosi Albert Luthuli Central Hospital, invited Dr Psaras to share his skills in this critical area. Aside from this important transfer of skills to the staff at Inkosi Albert Luthuli Central Hospital, the initiative also aims to upskill students from the University of KwaZulu-Natal in this rare surgical area. In addition, it is hoped this inaugural Smile Facial Reanimation Week will create awareness in local communities about both Moebius Syndrome and the assistance families can obtain from the Smile Foundation and in future, this hospital," explains Moira Gerszt, Operations Executive Director of the Smile Foundation.

According to the KZN Department of Health's Web site, Inkosi Albert Luthuli Central Hospital is a central and a tertiary care, referral hospital, located in Vusi Mzimela Road, Mayville, Durban. It is the first large-scale new hospital to be built in South Africa since 1994. It is the first hospital in South Africa to adopt a public/private partnership in the delivery of its services. It is fully electronic (computerised), working on paperless principles, and utilises the world's leading edge medical equipment from MRIs to surgical instruments.

"On behalf of The Victor Daitz Foundation it is a privilege to commemorate our Founder by supporting children in the KZN region with life-changing surgeries. This partnership will enable children to live their lives to their full potential and face the world with a positive self-image," says Brian Moshal, Managing Trustee of The Victor Daitz Foundation.

Two young girls have been identified for the life-changing surgery. They are seven-year-old Boitumelo from Brakpan North, and eight-year-old Olwethu from Potchefstroom. The two girls will be operated on over a four-day period, following which they will go into high care for a number of days (up to 10 days).

While the surgery is not a high-risk procedure it does take eight to 12 hours to perform. The surgery needs continuous precision and concentration for this period of time. It also requires two teams of surgeons; one harvesting the gracilis muscle and another working on the face. This collaboration of the two surgical teams working hand-in-hand complements their academic programme.

"As always, we wish to thank our generous sponsors and all the people involved in contributing to this important initiative. Thank you to The Victor Daitz Foundation for the vital funding that made this week possible, and a special thank you to the Principal Specialist, Dr Mahendra Daya, for his support in putting together this programme," says Gerszt.

Media are invited to attend the Smile Facial Reanimation Week at Inkosi Albert Luthuli Central Hospital supported by The Victor Daitz Foundation on the 28th February from 9am – 2pm in the Plastic Surgery Paediatric Ward, B1 West.