 Administrator, Director of Patient Support Services Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)
Joined: Jun 2007 Posts: 10,507 Likes: 7 | Debridement surgery usually is not as involved as the original surgery. From what I understand its where the doctors go in and clean things up, making minor adjustments as they go. Its a common procedure with many who have had a free flap done will undergo this type of secondary minor surgery. Ive had this done also and it was no big deal. Mine was done as an outpatient procedure.
The biggest issue I can see is your father has had radiation. This makes healing much slower for OC patients. He could need stronger antibiotics such as IV antibiotics and it could even be used in combo with hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBO). Ive done many HBO and it works great for helping me to heal when my wounds arent healing as they should.
ChristineSCC 6/15/07 L chk & by L molar both Stag I, age44 2x cispltn-35 IMRT end 9/27/07 -65 lbs in 2 mo, no caregvr Clear PET 1/08 4/4/08 recur L chk Stag I surg 4/16/08 clr marg 215 HBO dives 3/09 teeth out, trismus 7/2/09 recur, Stg IV 8/24/09 trach, ND, mandiblctmy 3wks medicly inducd coma 2 mo xtended hospital stay, ICU & burn unit PICC line IV antibx 8 mo 10/4/10, 2/14/11 reconst surg OC 3x in 3 years very happy to be alive  | 
