Surgeons restore smile of Ukrainian war blast survivor at Staten Island University Hospital

Surgeons at Staten Island University Hospital have successfully reconstructed the jaw of Anastasiia Polukhanova, a 30-year-old Ukrainian woman injured in a war blast. She lost her jaw in August 2023 and underwent multiple surgeries in Ukraine before coming to the U.S. for treatment. Upon arrival, doctors found her condition had worsened due to infection and deformity. They performed complex surgeries using her own bones to rebuild her jaw and restore her ability to chew and speak. Polukhanova expressed gratitude for her new smile and hopes to return to Ukraine by March 2025. She looks forward to resuming her life and is thankful for the support from the medical team.