nearly 3 years on...

[button123]

I had my op (sagittal split osteotomy - lower jaw advancement) nearly 3 years ago (august '06). Complete relapse 5 days later due to hardware failure on the left side so it was subsequently repaired. My mouth was sealed almost airtight by the acrylc wafer so I could only just drink water through a straw but nothing with ANY texture whatsoever. Nurses on the ward were shouting at me and telling me off because I was unable to eat or speak and refused to read my notes that i was writing to them explaining why I was unable to eat. I discharged myself and at a follow up appointment 2 weeks later the surgeon finally realised I couldn't eat and removed the back sections of the wafer.. Time went by and the wires/brace etc eventually got removed but the pain and swelling on the left hand side remained. it was apparently infected so in Nov '07 I had both plates removed and the areas cleaned out to remove infection/bone fragments etc and some heavy duty antibiotics. the swelling and pain still didn't go so I was just told that it shouldn't still be hurting. I was made to feel like it was all in my head and that the operation was a success. I was referred to physio to try and reduce the swelling but it didn't work. in my last appointment the surgeon asked if I would let him do a fourth(!!!) operation to have a look and see what was going on and to clean it out. I said no, there must be a less invasive way of taking a look. (and besides, I thought he was meant to clean it out in nov '07!!) 2 weeks ago I had a CT scan on my jaw to have a look and I got the result from my GP this week.

"there is incomplete union at the left angle of mandible and 3 small bony
fragments are noted at the angle of the mandible"

So basically my jaw bone has not healed nearly 3 years on, and they did not notice, despite constant pain and swelling.

Any ideas what the way forward would be with this?

My surgeon says he has never met anyone who has regretted this operation. well, he has now. If I could turn back time I would not even consider having it done.

btw I'm in the UK.
Also if this hasn't made enough sense, ask me questions. I'm dyslexic and find it hard to get my thoughts into writing so please be patient.

Thanks
Gem

[pvnguyen1]

I am considering surgery because of my underbite too. Hearing your stories and many others make me scare. I live in the US. Are the surgeon in the US better than the ones in UK?

[HokieTay]

I have to admit that some of these stories are making me nervous too. However, I see a trend thus far... they take place outside the U.S. Doctors in the U.S. are not perfect, but I think we have more choice, which results in more positive surgical experiences. I know for me I have consulted with four oral surgeons and chose a surgeon I feel very comfortable with. Can something still go wrong? Absolutely, but I'm confident it will be successful and if there are any problems they will be addressed and fixed.

[newsboysgrl777]

2 weeks ago I had a CT scan on my jaw to have a look and I got the result from my GP this week.

"there is incomplete union at the left angle of mandible and 3 small bony
fragments are noted at the angle of the mandible"

So basically my jaw bone has not healed nearly 3 years on, and they did not notice, despite constant pain and swelling.

Any ideas what the way forward would be with this?

Thanks
Gem

I would say you should bring this information to the attention of your surgeon and then get an opinion from a different surgeon. I'm sure you don't want another operation from this surgeon, but it sounds like you may have to have a fourth operation to fix what wasn't done correctly, or at least what hasn't healed properly. (I'm not sure if I'm understanding right or not. I know you say it hasn't healed, but what was it supposed to do? Have grown or fused or something to the 'old' section of the jaw? I hope that makes sense...But, if they took the hardware out, that means the pieces that held the section connected to the rest of your face and the part that was slid forward weren't connected to one another anymore? If I'm just complicating things with my questions, just ignore me...but here's a website where I saw what jaw surgery re: the lower jaw is like, so if I'm wrong, this is what I was thinking you were referring to). http://www.mayoclinic.org/jaw-surgery/video.html

Also, I would seek legal advice because obviously this is a lack of care on the part of the surgeon and orthodontist (if you had one), etc. There's got to be something like malpractice in the UK, right?

I feel so awful for you that you've had to go through this nightmare. I hope things work out and you can FINALLY heal and get things the way they should've been all along!! Please keep us updated!!

[Delag]

Phil went through t this - check some of his posts:

viewtopic.php?t=20903&highlight=

viewtopic.php?t=22230&highlight=

viewtopic.php?t=27186&highlight=

I think he also has a blog - look at the bottom of one of his posts and there should be a link.

[monarch]

Sorry to hear about your difficult experience. I know that some people don't heal as well as others....and I'm not sure if this is something that could/should create a lawsuit. Your age, general level of health, even your diet (enough protein, calcium, etc.) could all impact how well and how quickly you heal.

I hope all of this gets straightened out. Take care of yourself and eat well and carefully (I have heard that sugar delays healing, don't know if that applies to you at all, but it's worth mentioning.) Anyway, I will be interested to follow up and hear how everything goes. (hmm, we need a smilie that has fingers crossed.)

[2bpositive]

Just wanted to say to Delag thank you for the links to Phil's story. I've wanted to read his whole story and now I have. It was a long read but worth it.
It is the last (3rd) link that I started reading about Phil along with his words of wisdom that I'm waiting for the day he will post that he is deband.
Now I know his whole story and what a long journey he's had to take.