Does damage in the mandible require medications, or it heals on its own?

Question

Hello doctor,

My mother has been placed on an antibiotic infusion for a mandible infection. She is also taking oral antibiotics, Doxycycline, and Metronidazole. She has been on this protocol for about three weeks. The swelling has decreased; however, it has not resolved completely. She can eat solid soft foods. However, she would not eat much of anything. It is like her personality changed. In addition, she can move her legs but insists she cannot walk. My mom stays in a hospital bed essentially for 14 days. The at-home nurse advised that these are a by-product of the extended hospital stay. She advised the physical and occupational therapist can help with eating and walking issues. The ENT placed a drain in the infected area, which was removed a week ago today. The ENT surgeon did debridement and cleaned out the infected area. The ENT provided what he believes will clear up the infection. However, her mouth or jaw area moves uncontrollably at times. The nurse said it was a nerve that would heal with time. Is antibiotic therapy an appropriate treatment alone? Is the nurse correct that nerves can heal? Also, can an extended hospital stay change a person's personality? Kindly suggest.

Answer 1

Hello, Welcome to icliniq.com.

The uncontrolled jaw movements are because her oral motor coordination is affected a lot. We are talking mainly about the maxillary or inferior alveolar nerve of the jaw in the upper and lower segments. Once she is out of the hospital and starts with her normal eating, chewing, and swallowing coordination, I am pretty sure most of her original jaw movements might be restored. However, if she is having trouble after hospital discharge, consult me. I will suggest some post-discharge antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and nerve-healing tablets. This therapy is indicated post-discharge once she starts eating, chewing, or drinking as normally as before. Till then, these need not be taken. You also must know I have read from the previous reports you had enclosed last time that the infection was extremely severe in the mandible and might be close to the nerve, possibly affecting it. Hence the only way to deal with the infection nonsurgically is through antibiotic therapy alone. So whatever is done by your ENT surgeon right now is correct, and proceed ahead .oral antibiotic therapy alone can ease her discomfort and mandibular infection. Once she can walk around, chew properly, drink water, and stuff on her own, her motor coordination will return to normal. Only then can I prescribe you the relevant antioxidant and nerve healing tablet. One of the ways I would suggest is to take a tablet of Neurobion forte (Calcium pantothenate, Cyanocobalamin, Nicotinamide, Pyridoxine hydrochloride, Riboflavin, and Thiamine mononitrate) every day for around one month for oral healing and nerve regeneration. But take this only after consulting your local physician. In addition, the tablet Neurobion forte everyday post breakfast or lunch may help stabilize any possible nerve compression that has occured due to the infection.

Thank you.

Does damage in the mandible require medications, or it heals on its own?

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