Institute for Reconstructive Sciences in Medicine (iRSM), Dr. John Wolfaardt, Professor, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Alberta; Director, iRSM

ASTECH FOUNDATION SPECIAL AWARD
Medical Care Driven by Patients’ Needs

Dr. John Wolfaardt, Professor, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Alberta; Director, iRSM

Dr. Gordon Wilkes, Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeon, iRSM

What began as a common interest in the 1980s led Dr. John Wolfaardt and Dr. Gordon Wilkes to the epicentre of a revolution in head and neck reconstruction and rehabilitation.

“The impact on patients, functionally and psycho-socially when they have lost complete contents of their eye or half of their jaw is devastating. People would get their diagnosis and their world changed forever,” Dr. Wolfaardt says.

“At the time the options for facial reconstruction were limited. It was frustrating for the patients and for us,” he adds. Patients who had lost significant parts of their faces had to endure the daily cumbersome and painful procedure of gluing facial prostheses onto their sensitive skin.

“We knew something really different was needed,” recalls Dr. Wolfaardt, director of iRSM.

Advanced digital technologies have improved treatment through surgical simulation, and design and construction of prostheses and other devices. Instead of gluing their prosthesis onto their faces, patients now have the benefit of biomechanical implants that are anchored into their bone, including hearing devices. A whole range of technology was developed to enhance the use and performance of the devices.

“Patients who lived through the period prior to these technological advancements see how medical care is driven by their needs,” Dr. Wolfaardt says. “They say even if they can’t benefit from all of the outcomes of our newer developments, this creates hope for those who need it later on. That’s important to them.”