temporalis tendon transfer

[amaguarda]

this is a surgery that my doctor is suggesting that i have. i was wondering if anyone has had it, and hoping i can hear more from anyone who knows about it. i told my doctor i have to think it through. and research it as much as i can. the surgery is temporalis tendon transfer. please tell me all you know.

[leapyrtwins]

Amaguarda -

if temporalis tendon transfer is commonly abbreviated "T3", both Nancyann and Kaybo had this surgery.

They have both had beautiful results    Kaybo had a rough patch of post op "issues", but she's going great now.

If you search on "T3" you'll be able to find their posts.

Jan

[nancyann]

Hi Amaguarda:   I had the procedure done (we call it T3) - I am so happy with the results.   If you go to page 4 under this section, you'll see a subject 'Post Temporalis Transfer' - my before & after pictures are on page 2 - I was only 7 1/2 weeks post op then, it looks much better now, over 8 months post op.

Always good thoughts,   Nancy

[Kaybo]

Hi!!

I had the T3 at the end of March and have been VERY pleased.  Where are you and who would be doing the surgery?  I went to Dr. Byrne at Johns Hopkins in Baltimore - that is who Nancy went to also - ABSOLUTELY LOVE him!!  Do you have specific questions about the T3?  I'd be more than happy to talk about it with you...

K

[amaguarda]

i live in virginia. we are army so i am being treated at walter reed medical center in washington d.c. my doctor studied at hopkins.with my insurance i basically have to go where they except me unless they dont do it then i can go elsewhere. i was scared because he told me it takes up to a year to get results you expect.the thoughts i had were how will i look. i am used to the way i look now.but you guys are helping me with my decision. thank you

[nancyann]

Amaguarda:   if I remember correctly while I ws looking into the T3, I googled it & I remember reading aboout an army doctor who also does the procedure - can't remember if it was Walter Reed ?  You may want to google Temporalis Tendon Transfer, you may find the article,  - I think I read just about every article on it !

Always good thoughts,  Nancy

[Kaybo]

You can go to my blog (address at bottom) and go to the end of March and it starts telling all about the surgery.  It is my understanding that Dr. Byrne is the one that came up with the T3.  They had been doing something somewhat similiar, but not exactly, before that.  When I went back a couple of weeks ago, they were at 27 surgeries then.  I don't kinow what number I was...probably about 25 or so.  As far as I know, he is the only one in the US doing it right now.  I just can't say enough good stuff about him - he is SOOOOO nice!  With the T3, you get very quick results, I had some movement before even a week was up - I had already had the 12/7 though - don't know if that helped.  I don't think Nancy's came back quite as fast, but still not a year.  He did say that I could have healing for up to that long...maybe that is what your Dr. was referring to?  The 12/7 Graft does take closer to a year to see ANY results.  How long ago did you have surgery?

K

[nancyann]

Hi K:  I never had a nerve graft, that's why I won't have movement other than thru the T3.   My facial nerve was cut.
The 'Mona Lisa' smile is enough for me !

Always good thoughts,   Nancy

[mimoore]

How do you decide which one to do? ... 12/7, T3 Man this can get kind of confusing - and when do you decide to have it? One year, two? When do you finally believe the EMG test?
This is all a bit overwhelming - come on face get moving will ya? Give me a sign - a little hope would certainly help me cope. zzzzzzzzzzzz nope it's not listening - its still sleeping.
Michelle 

[Kaybo]

Michelle~
I had NO MOVEMENT, ZILCH, NOTHING at all every time they tested it that 1st year so when I went in for the 1 year check, the Dr. said that we should do the 12/7 graft - at that time, THAT was the newest thing!  I think that they knew before then since I didn't have anything...Have you had ANYthing at all??  How far out are you?

K

[Kaybo]

Nancy~
I knew you didn't have the 12/7, I just thought that you had commented that yours didn't move quite so soon - I wondered that I had movement right away b/c I HAD had the 12/7...

K

[leapyrtwins]

Michelle -

I don't know the difference between T3 and 12/7 jump, but Lori (lori67) is having the 12/7 jump surgery in October.

If she doesn't respond to this thread, you might want to PM her and ask her about the 12/7.

Jan

[mimoore]

Hi K,
I am 9 weeks post op. My nerve tested 0.1MA during surgery although the operative summary said there is no good 7th bundle seen - the 7th is quite splayed.  Time will tell.
Michelle

[saralynn143]

So Kaybo, you had no improvement for a year and then had a 12/7 jump that did not take? That had to have been rough.

Sara

[nancyann]

Michelle:  I had EMGs about every 3-4 months for a year.   I decided not to do the 7/12 jump for a few reasons:  1st I was just so scared to have my nerves operated on again.  Then, there was my age (51 at the time), & I was a smoker.    After 2 years I decided to go ahead with the T3 surgery,  & I'm very happy I did it.  Had I been younger I would have probably gone the nerve jump route 1st.

I know it's overwhelming, it does get easier with time, at least it did for me.

I still have some tweaking to do with my right eye, but that's the easy stuff.

Always good thoughts,  Nancy