Dr Hadi Seikaly

Title: Maxillofacial prosthodontics - current concepts - the way we do it at iRSM

Maxillary and mandibular defects due to head and neck oncology treatment leave a trail of anatomic, functional and psychological deficiencies. Management of these defects includes surgical and/or prosthodontic modalities. Prosthodontic modalities permit monitoring of the defect site; however, the patient is constantly reminded of the defect and the disease.  Although feasible and preferable in smaller defects, Surgical closure with soft tissue does compromise prosthetic rehabilitation in a large defect due to poor prosthodontic support.

In larger defects, using bone-containing microvascular free flap transfer techniques has significantly improved jaw reconstruction in head and neck oncology.  However, there are challenges consisting of the accuracy of the position and insertion of bone flaps and the time scales for oral rehabilitation for these patients, which could extend anywhere from 3 – 5 years or more.  The advent of advanced digital technologies has allowed surgical management to be raised to new levels of precision and accuracy. This has led to combining the resection, reconstruction and rehabilitation pathways in head and neck oncology. It has significantly reduced oral rehabilitation times ranging from 6-12 months for benign conditions to 12-18 months for malignant diseases, along with its attendant improvements in function and aesthetics. 

To achieve this level of sophistication, along with the convergence of various technologies, it is important that a team of specialists from diverse fields carry out the planning and management.   At the Institute for Reconstructive Sciences in Medicine (iRSM), Edmonton, Canada, colleagues from Maxillofacial Prosthodontics, Head and Neck Surgery, Surgical Design and Simulation, Dental Lab Technology, among others, work with each other.  In this presentation series, we hope to share with our colleagues at the BSSPD Platinum Jubilee conference how our team leverages advanced digital technologies for better outcomes for our patients.

Aims and objectives:

• To understand the use of surgical design and simulation in planning jaw reconstruction and oral rehabilitation in head and neck oncology.
• To appreciate the need for a team of specialists to be involved in planning and management in head and neck oncology.
• To recognize the improved patient outcomes in head and neck oncology when advanced digital technologies are employed in its management.

Biography:
Dr. Hadi Seikaly is a professor of the departments of Surgery and Oncology at the University of Alberta in Edmonton. He is the Director of the division of Otolaryngology – Head and Neck. Dr. Seikaly is the past president of the Canadian Association of Head and Neck Surgical Oncology, and the vice president of the Canadian Society of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery. 

Dr. Seikaly graduated from the University of Toronto medical school and completed his residency training at the University of Alberta in Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery.  He then obtained fellowship training at the University of Texas Medical Branch in advanced head and neck oncology, and microvascular reconstruction. Dr. Seikaly completed a Masters of the Arts in Leadership from the Royal Roads University in 2014.

Dr. Seikaly has a large practice dedicated to head, neck, and skull base oncology and reconstruction. His research interests include functional surgical and reconstructive outcomes, microvascular head and neck reconstruction, submandibular gland transfer, and digitally driven complete occlusal reconstruction. Dr. Seikaly is the director of the Head and Neck Research Network. He has been a PI or collaborator on numerous research grants receiving funding from various agencies, including CIHR, Terry Fox Foundation and Alberta Cancer Foundation. He has published over 220 peer reviewed papers and book chapters.

Dr. Seikaly is the recipient of the many prestigious awards including the Edmonton Zone Medical Staff Association researcher of the year, the Canadian Society of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery award for national educational excellence, the Ernest Skakun award for service to medical education, and the Mentor of the year. He is a member of numerous surgical societies, nationally/internationally and has been invited as a visiting professor to over 100 institutions lecturing on all aspects of Head and Neck Oncology and reconstruction.