forehead sinus setbacl(type3) worried about TITANIUM screws side effects

[nacekk]

Hi i would like to know about negative side effects that you might have had with frontal sinus setback and how did you resolve the problem. As of late i am worried about the negative side effect that titanium screws might have. I was reading about it here : http://www.eorthopod.com/content/can-titanium-plates-be-left-in-the-body-safely

i hope i am not breaking forum rules by posting this link. Also want to know if anyone has removed this titanium screws later?

thanks for answers...

[blackMamba]

I think it would be hard to pinpoint if the side effects mentioned in the article could be attributed to the titanium screws.  And although I didn't read the entire study (just the summary found in the link you posted), it looks like the author a) was specifically looking at metal plates, not screws, and b) found "the information found on this topic seems to suggest that the overall level of risk when leaving titanium plates in the forearm is acceptable".

One thing you could do is have your blood checked to see if there is an elevated level of titanium in your body.  But, in my opinion, it doesn't sound like this (study) is cause for serious alarm. 

[Felix]

I wouldn't worry too much. Titanium is better than the alternatives, and we haven't ruled out negative effects but we're not seeing them either. I have titanium in my ankle, have for years, and the time I had some of the screws removed it was because they were painful and externally visible.

I couldn't find the referenced article (didn't look very hard), but I did find this:

Serum Titanium Levels in Individuals Undergoing Intramedullary Femoral Nailing With a Titanium Implant
Journal of Trauma-Injury Infection & Critical Care:
February 2008 - Volume 64 - Issue 2 - pp 430-433
http://journals.lww.com/jtrauma/Abstract/2008/02000/Serum_Titanium_Levels_in_Individuals_Undergoing.27.aspx

It's just an abstract, but it seems to support the general assumption.

[nacekk]

ok, thanks for the answers. Can anyone explain me further about these plates because the information i have now is such that some doctors use the plates along with the screws + Hydroxyapatite paste if needed to smooth out any irregularities or edges. And some mentioned that they use only screws and paste. I would like to have my bone used as much as possible and to have as little metal inside as possible aswell..

thankss

[Cara]

As a future candidate for FFS forehead work I'm also very concerned about the open sinus technique. It all started by perusing Dr. Z's websitehttp://www.mlzukowskiffs.com/ and reading about the botched surgeries with patients having screws showing under the skin and continual sinus headaches. I don't know if his site is exaggerating the issue or not but it has caused me step back and do more research.
Cara

[Sybil]

Hi there,

While I cannot provide a comprehensive answer to all of your questions, I can provide you with my own experience concerning titanium: I've had titanium rods, plating and screws lining the grand majority of my spine for 8 years now. I am happy to report that there are zero complications or discomfort for me, and from everyone else I have spoken to who has gone through a similar experience, they feel the same way. My doctor told me that the only complications he really ever encountered were infections (which happen very soon after the surgery, and are a risk with any surgery), and physical discomfort with the correction devices a few years down the line - which he insisted was extremely rare and only occurred in exceedingly thin people.

From what I understand, my doctor is one of the best orthopedic surgeons in the world and has been in practice for several decades. I recall asking him if there was anything to be concerned about regarding the metal in my body, and he said that he had never encountered a problem before.

I hope this is helpful. I'm sorry if it isn't particularly informative, but I can only hope it provides some level of comfort.

[nacekk]

Thanks Sybil it does provide comfort to me. If anyone else is reading this that had the same surgery and is feeling aright please post

Cara i have also seen dr.Z webpage but was not so worried about it because all the "white" aesthetic doctors i ve talked with said ugly things about how stuff is being done in Thailand and after the research i ve done i am sure this is far from truth. knock knock

[Felix]

patients having screws showing under the skin

This is a possibility with any surgery that involves putting foreign objects into the body. Obviously with your face that's a very serious problem, but it doesn't indicate total quackery or anything. I imagine a surgeon who does FFS would have to be quite an artist, and you'd have to be careful who you trust.

I'm commenting because I spent about a year and a half with a line of screws and the edge of a plate showing under the skin on my ankle. It was icky looking, and I was always bonking it on things because it didn't feel natural.