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Jaw Fused Shut for 38 Years: Man's Life Transformed
29 Nov
Summary
- Man lived 38 years unable to open mouth, eat solid food.
- Free surgery in Pune restored his ability to eat and speak.
- His photos used in racist attacks, doctors condemn the misuse.
For nearly four decades, Rajendra Panchal lived with a jaw fused to his skull, a result of a childhood injury. This condition, temporo-mandibular joint ankylosis, rendered him unable to eat solid food or speak properly for 38 years. He endured hardship, including poverty and social stigma, before a chance toothache led him to surgeons.
A team of maxillofacial surgeons at Pune's M A Rangoonwala Dental College provided Panchal with free, life-altering surgery in 2017. This complex procedure successfully separated his fused jaw and skull bones, enabling him to eat solid food and speak clearly. His physical transformation was significant, with his weight increasing from 45 kg to over 60 kg.
Recently, photos from his surgery resurfaced online, disturbingly used in racist attacks to portray "an archetypal Indian." The lead surgeon expressed shock and clarified that the condition stems from physical trauma, not genetics. Panchal, now working as a mason, lives with his wife and son, grateful for the operation that gave him a new life.
