Rajendra Panchal, 39, was aged one when he fell on his face while walking, damaging and misplacing his jaw.
His parents were not able to get him treatment and it is understood his jaw fused in place, leaving him unable to open his mouth more than approximately 1.5cm.
For decades malnourished Rajendra existed on a liquid diet until he visited the dentists for toothache – and the surgeon obviously couldn’t access his teeth.
Surgeon Dr J B Garde released the fused jaw joint – and now he can open his mouth 4.5cm wide, enough to eat and talk properly for the first time in his life.
Elated Rajendra said: “I am now able to eat and talk like any normal person.”
Rajendra from Pune in the state of Maharashtra in India, said he was often taunted for his deformity, and was unable to chew or eat solid food.
“Our financial condition was such that we could not afford medical treatment,” he said.
“Also, I had to drop out of school after fourth grade due to our poor socio-economic status.”
Unable to bear a severe toothache in December last year, he visited the dentist.
He was diagnosed with ankyloses of the temporomandibular joint and Dr Garde performed the surgery for free on December 21.
Dr Garde said: “It is a rare case.
“Normally in such cases it is diagnosed and treated without much delay.
“But, here, the patient has persisted with the condition for 38 years, making it even more extremely rare.
“The procedure to release the fused skull bone is a complex one and post-operative physiotherapy sessions play a vital role for such patients.
“There are also high chances of re-ankylosis in patients if they skip the physiotherapy sessions.
“The surgery lasted more than four hours, during which his fused skull bone was released and we achieved a satisfactory opening in the mouth of 45 millimetres.
