The quality of life after a major surgical intervention: mandibulectomy

Abstract

The tumours localised on the mandibular bone are one of the patologies with a serious prognosis, difficult to approach for the veterinary cliniciens and to accept by the owners. The treatment of choice for most of the cases is the surgical one. The surgical technique varies depending on the portion that has to be removed. For the cliniciens, this intervention represents a challenge requiring solid knowledge of anatomy and possession of a numerous and diverse instruments. For the owners, the decision to choose the surgical solution is difficult to make, the main threats being the change of the animal´s facial aspect after the intervention and the fear that their quality of life will be affected. However, the results are the most time satisfactorily: the pacients not only live for many years after, but they get used very fast to make the prehention of food and to swallow, living a normal life. The only aspect that cannot be controlled is the risk of a recurrence.