Surgery gone awry years down the road...
March 4, 2009 9:24 PM Subscribe
Nine years ago my tongue based advancement surgery meant a titanium screw was installed in my jaw and a wire was wrapped around my tongue so I would not die in my sleep. Most of that device now sits in a bag in front of me. Now what? (Gory details inside.)
Due to severe sleep apnea I had a tongue based advancement (along with a UPPP and hyoid advancement).
Before Christmas I developed a fistula below my two front teeth. A giant fistula. Both my dentist and my endodontist said the same thing upon seeing my x-rays - "I've never seen anything like this before."
Fast forward two weeks (so I could use my 2009 dental benefits) and my endodontist had to do two root canals for my now necrotized teeth. When he got into my jaw he found a tunnel below my teeth which led to the titanium screw which was now dangling from my jaw - and it was now attached to a small remaining portion of the wire which was wrapped around my tongue. He removed both the screw and the wire. I am glad he did this. No, I do not know how much wire is missing and where it is.
Not all surgeries last forever, I know. But the surgeon who installed this device repeatedly assured me it would last forever. The surgery cost my insurance company over $36,000. That surgery was a horrible time for me for many reasons - horrible anesthesia problems, terrible recovery, etc etc. This surgery was done at a reputable hospital by a reputable surgeon.
However I'm quite upset by how this has turned out. The work to correct my teeth used $1497 of my $1500 dental benefits for 2009 (and that was in the first week of January). I want to approach the surgeon about what happened and possibly seek compensation for my dental bills. I'd also like my insurance company's take on this as well.
But even though it has been a few months the emotional still overrides the rational, so I seek the hivemind's help. What would be a good course of action to remedy this? I don't want another device installed in my jaw but I don't want this swept under the rug either.
Recommendations sought about how to approach the Doctor and my insurance company about this. Thanks very much for your input.
Due to severe sleep apnea I had a tongue based advancement (along with a UPPP and hyoid advancement).
Before Christmas I developed a fistula below my two front teeth. A giant fistula. Both my dentist and my endodontist said the same thing upon seeing my x-rays - "I've never seen anything like this before."
Fast forward two weeks (so I could use my 2009 dental benefits) and my endodontist had to do two root canals for my now necrotized teeth. When he got into my jaw he found a tunnel below my teeth which led to the titanium screw which was now dangling from my jaw - and it was now attached to a small remaining portion of the wire which was wrapped around my tongue. He removed both the screw and the wire. I am glad he did this. No, I do not know how much wire is missing and where it is.
Not all surgeries last forever, I know. But the surgeon who installed this device repeatedly assured me it would last forever. The surgery cost my insurance company over $36,000. That surgery was a horrible time for me for many reasons - horrible anesthesia problems, terrible recovery, etc etc. This surgery was done at a reputable hospital by a reputable surgeon.
However I'm quite upset by how this has turned out. The work to correct my teeth used $1497 of my $1500 dental benefits for 2009 (and that was in the first week of January). I want to approach the surgeon about what happened and possibly seek compensation for my dental bills. I'd also like my insurance company's take on this as well.
But even though it has been a few months the emotional still overrides the rational, so I seek the hivemind's help. What would be a good course of action to remedy this? I don't want another device installed in my jaw but I don't want this swept under the rug either.
Recommendations sought about how to approach the Doctor and my insurance company about this. Thanks very much for your input.
Before Christmas I developed a fistula below my two front teeth. A giant fistula. Both my dentist and my endodontist said the same thing upon seeing my x-rays - "I've never seen anything like this before."
Not your lawyer, don't want to be, but you should get a lawyer as soon as possible to ensure you aren't running up against any statutes of limitation (look into something called the "discovery rule") should you decide to pursue compensation via the litigation route.
BUT to keep things simple for now--and who knows, things might just work out that way?--I would contact the doc with your specific demands and see what happens. Just explain that you're a reasonable person and that you're averse to calling an attorney but, 'look, doc, I feel like I really got screwed here, and here are my bills. And how about a little something for my trouble?'
Your insurance company probably won't be of much help at this point. They'll want you to take this up with the ostensibly responsible party, which seems to be the doctor. (And his insurance company.)
You just have to ask yourself what's a win for you. If you don't want another device--well, is the problem corrected? Is what you're really wanting then just a little something for your troubles when the nine-years-ago treatment didn't terminate according to plan (i.e., last forever)? Do you just want your bills paid and a little more? Maybe you want your bills paid and and extra $1500 to take care of any dental bills that should come up this year? Just have some different "wins" in mind and see what he's willing to do.
Perhaps ask to meet with him in person.
Again, not your lawyer. Best of luck.
posted by resurrexit at 9:44 PM on March 4, 2009
Not your lawyer, don't want to be, but you should get a lawyer as soon as possible to ensure you aren't running up against any statutes of limitation (look into something called the "discovery rule") should you decide to pursue compensation via the litigation route.
BUT to keep things simple for now--and who knows, things might just work out that way?--I would contact the doc with your specific demands and see what happens. Just explain that you're a reasonable person and that you're averse to calling an attorney but, 'look, doc, I feel like I really got screwed here, and here are my bills. And how about a little something for my trouble?'
Your insurance company probably won't be of much help at this point. They'll want you to take this up with the ostensibly responsible party, which seems to be the doctor. (And his insurance company.)
You just have to ask yourself what's a win for you. If you don't want another device--well, is the problem corrected? Is what you're really wanting then just a little something for your troubles when the nine-years-ago treatment didn't terminate according to plan (i.e., last forever)? Do you just want your bills paid and a little more? Maybe you want your bills paid and and extra $1500 to take care of any dental bills that should come up this year? Just have some different "wins" in mind and see what he's willing to do.
Perhaps ask to meet with him in person.
Again, not your lawyer. Best of luck.
posted by resurrexit at 9:44 PM on March 4, 2009
Random googling led me to this article. From page 30:
Major complications include anterior chin numbness, tooth injury, and mandible fracture.
I'm not sure how much luck you'll have getting any reimbursement if the complication (sounds like a massive version of tooth injury?) is rare but possible. Unless you can show that there was some sort of error on the part of the hospital or the surgeon, which I would guess is pretty unlikely at this late stage.
If I were you I would see a new physician familiar with the procedure, mostly to check and make sure the rest of the wire isn't going to cause you more problems down the line .. should it be hiding somewhere else in your jaw, for example. (Esp. now that you've used up your dental insurance for the year). And you might want to see if there are other ways to manage your sleep apnea too.
But while you're there, you might as well ask if this pretty intense complication might be due to error instead of just piss poor luck.
posted by nat at 10:10 PM on March 4, 2009
Major complications include anterior chin numbness, tooth injury, and mandible fracture.
I'm not sure how much luck you'll have getting any reimbursement if the complication (sounds like a massive version of tooth injury?) is rare but possible. Unless you can show that there was some sort of error on the part of the hospital or the surgeon, which I would guess is pretty unlikely at this late stage.
If I were you I would see a new physician familiar with the procedure, mostly to check and make sure the rest of the wire isn't going to cause you more problems down the line .. should it be hiding somewhere else in your jaw, for example. (Esp. now that you've used up your dental insurance for the year). And you might want to see if there are other ways to manage your sleep apnea too.
But while you're there, you might as well ask if this pretty intense complication might be due to error instead of just piss poor luck.
posted by nat at 10:10 PM on March 4, 2009
Response by poster: Thanks for the answers so far. Frankly formulating an answer to the "what do I want out of this?" has been inconclusive so these answers (and future ones) will be used to approach an answer. The mechanical parts of my sleep apnea were helped mainly by the UPPP instead of the other two procedures (for having such a large mouth I have an unusually small back of the throat, or at least I used to) and managing my weight has a significant impact as well.
Thanks, everyone.
posted by TomSophieIvy at 10:30 PM on March 4, 2009
Thanks, everyone.
posted by TomSophieIvy at 10:30 PM on March 4, 2009
I'd think that the insurance company might be a good resource. They probably have experts on call who know a lot about suing and getting money for malpractice... I'd think...
posted by amtho at 2:29 AM on March 5, 2009
posted by amtho at 2:29 AM on March 5, 2009
I am neither a doctor nor a lawyer, but it sounds to me like the device might have been defective or improperly installed. The latter is highly accusatory; I'd consult a lawyer you trust first, then investigate the possibility of the former with your surgeon. I assume you still have the broken pieces? Do not let them out of your sight without the okay of your lawyer.
posted by Caviar at 5:23 PM on March 5, 2009
posted by Caviar at 5:23 PM on March 5, 2009
This thread is closed to new comments.
Why not write/call the doctor and ask the doctor to refund your money?
posted by jayder at 9:34 PM on March 4, 2009