Dr. Shawn T Joseph

Dr. Shawn T. Joseph is a pioneering Head and Neck Surgeon renowned for his innovative surgical techniques and contributions to minimally invasive and reconstructive head and neck surgery. His expertise spans oncological precision, functional preservation, and aesthetic excellence, with several firsts to his credit in India and Kerala.

Surgical Innovations and Highlights

1.  Trident Landmark Technique - Developed a novel method for precise identification of the facial nerve during parotid surgery, significantly enhancing surgical safety and anatomical accuracy. 
2.  TAMMIL Procedure - Introduced a unique surgical approach for preservation and reconstruction of the larynx in selected laryngeal and hypopharyngeal cancers, combining oncological clearance with functional voice preservation.
3.  Islanded Facial Artery Osteomyomucosal Flap - Innovated this flap for local, vascularized bone reconstruction in complex head and neck defects, facilitating single-stage functional restoration. 
4. Facial Artery-Based Flaps - Pioneered and popularized the use of facial artery-based myomucosal and osteomyomucosal flaps for reconstruction of mucosal defects in the floor of the mouth, palate, and hypopharynx. Published the largest clinical series of islanded facial artery-based flaps in the Journal of Plastic, Reconstructive & Aesthetic Surgery (JPRAS), the official journal of the British Association of Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgeons. 
5. Hybrid Third Space Endoscopy-Assisted Transoral Robotic Surgery (TORS) - Performed a pioneering hybrid procedure for treating lesions of the lower pharynx and upper esophagus, expanding the application of TORS while preserving both the larynx and esophagus.
6.  Robotic Thyroidectomy - Performed Kerala’s first Robot-Assisted Breast Axillo-Insufflation Thyroidectomy (RABIT), establishing a minimally invasive approach with superior cosmetic outcomes.
7. Transoral Robotic Thyroidectomy - Successfully performed the first transoral robotic thyroidectomy in Kerala, offering a no-visible-scar solution for thyroid surgery.
8. Thyroid Cancer Treatment Protocol - Developed and implemented a treatment protocol that safely reduces the use of radioiodine therapy in over 90% of patients with papillary thyroid carcinoma without systemic spread, thereby minimizing morbidity, cost, and long-term risks.
9. No Facial Scar Oral Cancer Surgery - Pioneered aesthetic, no-scar surgical approaches for oral cancers with emphasis on mandible preservation, maintaining oncological safety while optimizing cosmetic outcomes.
10. Concealed Incision Parotidectomy - Extensive experience in parotid gland surgery using concealed incisions, significantly improving cosmetic results without compromising access or oncological efficacy.
11.  Transoral Laser Microsurgery (TLM) and Endoscopic Skull Base Surgery - Recognized for advanced expertise in TLM for early laryngeal cancers and expanded endonasal approaches for ventral skull base tumors. One of the largest institutional series of such procedures in India. 
12. Complex Corrosive Stricture Management - Significant clinical experience in managing complex strictures of the upper aerodigestive tract caused by corrosive injuries, offering reconstructive and restorative surgical solutions.
13.  Selective Neck Dissection & Sentinel Node Protocols: De-escalating morbidity in neck management
14. STABLE (Single stage Transcutaneous suture fixation of Anterior commissure defect using Buccal mucosa graft following Laser Excision)- Novel technique for a so far difficult area to manage in Trans oral laser micro surgery.
15. Performed the first arytenoid adduction surgery in the state of Gujarat in 2008 at Medical College, Bhavnagar.