Jaw Surgery Forums » Post-Surgery and Recovery Questions

Removing screws and plates?

(10 posts)

  1. Rose
    Member

    Hey everyone,
    I had a Lefort 1 maxillary osteotomy on June 23, 2010. Ever since then I've been struggling with a bad sinus infection due to screws protruding into my sinuses. My ENT is encouraging me to have the screws removed and that will make the infection will go away. My oral surgeon isn't sure about it but said he'll remove the screws if I want.
    My only thing is that I read about someone with the same issue as me who had their screws removed but still continued to get sinus infections regularly. Do you think I should go ahead and get them removed and see if it helps? I'm 17 and a freshman in college so I'll have to have them removed over Christmas break/between semesters (about a month and a half). Will that be enough time to recover? I'd really like to hear your opinions and any information you have on this.
    Thank you!

    Posted 7 months ago #

  2. April
    Member

    I would see if another ENT agreed with the first about it being the screws causing the infection. What if its something else? Oh how I hate sinus infections!!! That sucks you've been dealing with it for this long!

    I used to get a sinus infection every couple months, I even ended up in the ER from one once. It can really take over your life! Took me years to figure out what was wrong with me. Turns out I'm allergic to a protein in milk. Ugh. I cut all dairy out of my diet and I haven't had a problem since.

    Anyway, a second opinion wouldn't hurt...taking the screws and plates out makes me nervous, but I've heard of them doing it. Does your surgeon think you're bones are strong enough 6 months after surgery?

    Posted 7 months ago #

  3. Rose
    Member

    Hi April,
    thanks for your reply! It's awful that your sinus infections got so bad! I'm glad they figured out what was wrong!
    It's been a year and 4 months since I had the surgery, and it'll be a year and 6 months by Christmas so my bones are definitely strong enough. Thanks for your advice! I'll ask my parents if they think we should get a 2nd opinion.

    Posted 7 months ago #

  4. April
    Member

    oops, I missed the 2010 part! I really hope you can get some answers, must be so frustrating and disappointing. There must be someone on this forum who has had the screws removed...I wonder what their experience can tell you? Hopefully they will see this....

    Posted 7 months ago #

  5. melanie
    Member

    Try rinsing twice a day with neilmed sinus rinse (the bottle not the neti pot). Ive been using it for years after sinus surgery and after my jaw surgery. It really helps prevent illness and clear out what you have in your sinuses. Its worth a try.

    Posted 7 months ago #

  6. RachelM
    Member

    Rose, can I ask, did you have your surgery when you were 16?
    I hope you can sort out your sinus problems soon. It really doesn't sounds much fun to be having problems so long after your surgery

    Posted 7 months ago #

  7. Rose
    Member

    April- thanks for your kindness :)
    Melanie- thanks! I'll look into that.
    Rachel- Yes, I was 16.

    Also just some more info for anyone else reading this. I had sinus surgery in September 2010 (3 months after jaw surgery) to get all the junk out. My ENT thinks the reason the infection never went away/came back is because the infection is sitting on the screws. Obviously the screws don't have an immune system to fight the infection so it's just sitting in there brewing (gross word but..)

    Posted 7 months ago #

  8. RachelM
    Member

    could the problem be that the bones in your face have grown and they're pushing the plates and screws to cause infection? I've read about it happening with people who've had their jaw surgery young and haven't been fully developed. 16 is very young to have your surgery even though I'm sure they checked you were fully developed, it's very hard to be certain until you're at least past 18

    Posted 7 months ago #

  9. Rose
    Member

    Hmm. Maybe. That's interesting. I could smell the infection just week after the jaw surgery though, I don't know how my bones could have pushed and caused an infection that quickly? Plus I've gone to the oral surgeon recently and after looking at xrays, he says everything looks perfect. Would he be able to see if something like that was going on?

    Posted 7 months ago #

  10. RachelM
    Member

    If you've had x-rays recently then I'm sure they would have been able to spt any problems. It sounds like you've had an underlying infection from almost immediately after surgery and haven't been able to shake it off. I hope you can get it sorted out soon

    Posted 7 months ago #

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