Hi, in early October I broke my jaw and had to have emergency surgery to put two titanium plates to hold my jaw together, it s been fine but up until now the side with the biggest fracture has just randomly started cracking again and slight pain is coming from it, not agonising, also it feels a little odd closing my jaw again, i havn t been injured to knock it so i m just wondering if it can be signs of any long term side effects or possibly become lose?
Hello there....titanium is the best known bio compatible material... it has the least adverse effects than any other implants used in the body.... if its is your lower jaw, two plates are advised to resist the forces acting over the jaw... It usually takes 3 months of time for the fractured bone to achieve 40% of its original strength and to appreciate radiological bone formation.... Infections are possible from the plates and screws.though chances are less, there are possibilities of infection if sterilization procedures intraoperatively, mode of plate and screw fixation and oral hygiene post operative are not maintained well....get a radiograph done...any infection or loosening of the screw would be appreciated .... Initially we prescribe antibiotics to treat the infection.in case severe pain, pus discharge, movement of the fractured segments, swelling we advocate plate removal... If none of these problems persists plates can be retained... Visit your surgeon for clinical evaluation and management....