Sunninghill’s top surgeons

Orthognathic surgery involves procedures to correct anomalies of the jaw and the face. South African surgeons were involved in the training of specialists from all over the world at the Masterclass in Orthognathic Surgery at Sunninghill Hospital.

According to Prof. Johan Reyneke, who organised the masterclass and is director of the Centre for Orthognathic Surgery at the hospital, the highly interactive and practical class was attended by 10 surgeons from Holland, Italy, Botswana, Turkey, Brazil and Mexico. The class was restricted to 10 delegates to ensure that each of the participants received personal attention.

The course offered participants an intensive practical approach to the correction of dento-facial anomalies, and live surgery was used to demonstrate surgical techniques. Reyneke said the field of orthognathic surgery was a highly specialised and important one. “There is often a misconception that the work of a surgeon in this field is purely cosmetic,” Reyneke said. “While this can be an important part of their work, it is vital to note that facial anomalies can have a devastating impact on people’s lives. They may, for example, be unable to chew, struggle to breathe, suffer medical conditions such as sleep apnoea or be shunned by society because of their unusual appearance.”