SIUH surgeons give 30-year-old Ukrainian war blast survivor her smile back

STATEN ISLAND Physicians and surgeons at Northwell Staten Island University facility (SIUH) in New York celebrated Wednesday with Anastasiia Polukhanova, a resilient 30-year-old Ukrainian lady who lost her jaw in the crossfire of battle but had her grin restored by doctors at the Ocean Breeze facility.

“I’m thrilled to be smiling again after a lot of pain and surgery,” she said.

After suffering a severe injury in the raging conflict in Ukraine a year and a half ago, and after multiple unsuccessful surgeries there, Polukhanova traveled to Staten Island to undergo intricate jaw reconstruction surgery.

Her life would be irrevocably altered by what started out as an ordinary day at her mother-in-law’s residence.

Polukhanova, who was just married in 2020, had been employed as an accountant. When a bomb detonated in August 2023, Polukhanova’s jaw was severed by the debris upon impact.

Later, a group of SIUH physicians and surgeons would unite to support Polukhanova.

Surrounded by SIUH medical professionals on Friday, Polukhanova said, “This was, and is, an indescribable feeling. I had a happy life and I had no idea this would impact me so much.” I had hope that things would improve because of these doctors.

Her trip to the United States was arranged by Dr. David Hoffman, director of Oral and Maxillofacial Dentistry at the Ocean Breeze hospital, and Dr. Eugene Holuka, vice president of physician development. Hoffman had visited Polukhanova’s home in Debra, Ukraine, and maintained contact with the surgeons he had encountered there.

He remarked, “I had met a lot of surgeons there, and after the war started, I kept in touch with them to find out what supplies they needed and how I could help them.” Anastasiia’s fibula was used to create her new jaw, and the physicians indicated that they had a few patients who needed microvascular surgery, which involves connecting other body parts to the area that needs them the most.

“Anastasiia’s picture was there, and she said she wanted to come,” Hoffman added, despite the fact that many of the patients were military personnel who refused to leave their country.

Her neighbors assisted in getting her into an ambulance following the initial explosion, and she was driven to the closest hospital. Her jaw was entirely gone from her molars forward when Hoffman first viewed Polukhanova’s photo; the only thing holding the two pieces together was a metal plate that had been implanted by the local surgeons.

Condition worsens

Upon arriving, SIUH physicians discovered that Polukhanova’s condition had gotten worse. She was in danger of losing her teeth since the skin around the metal plate had grown diseased and the lower portion of her face was gradually deforming.

“We needed to get a new bone in place for her new jaw because reconstruction is essential to provide the necessary support when you have a wound that complex,” said Dr. Michael Blasco, director of head and neck oncology and reconstruction. We were able to restore her intricate wounds thanks to this complicated surgery.

Hoffman and Blasco operated to rebuild Polukhanova’s jaw using many bones from her body. To guarantee enough blood flow, they re-contoured it and attached it to the face blood arteries, they claimed.

Before undergoing surgery at Staten Island University Hospital in Ocean Breeze, Anastasiia Polukhanova’s broken jaw is shown on her CT image. (Image courtesy of Staten Island University Hospital/Jillian O’Hara)Ohara JIllian

A big group effort

Following the success of those procedures, Polukhanova had surgery just over a week ago to have her teeth restored by Dr. Lydia Lam, a member of the oral and maxillofacial dentistry team.

Since the bone provided the framework for her new teeth, getting it in place initially was crucial, according to Lam. We also needed to concentrate on resolving her speech and chewing issues when she initially arrived.

According to Lam, Polulhanova was among the most upbeat and hopeful patients she had ever encountered, which speaks much about her resilience.

After that, we were able to give her teeth in a day, and Lam commented that it was truly a team effort for us to be able to do that for her.

In order for Polukhanova to return to Ukraine by March 2025, the doctors stated that they are awaiting the healing of her scars.

Polukanova expressed her excitement at going back.

She stated on Friday, “I love it here, but home is home, and I want to go back.” There is no better place than home, and I am confident that everything will work itself out.

Following a news conference at the Staten Island University Hospital in Ocean Breeze, Dr. David Hoffman, Dr. Michael Blasco, Dr. Lydia Lam, and Anastasiia Polukhanova are seen standing together from the left. (Kass Garced, Staten Island Advance)Garced Kass

She was beaming broadly as she sat with her mother-in-law, Olha Polukhanova, in a board room at SIUH on Friday. In the upcoming weeks, she said, she hopes to be able to chew meals correctly.

She said, “This is an indescribable feeling for me.” I used to cry when I looked in the mirror, comparing myself to the person I was before the incident. My family and I am really appreciative.