I'm interested in finding out any treatments re: osteoradionecrosis of the jaw. My husband was treated with tongue cancer 9 years ago at U of C and given 7 weeks of combined radiation and chemo after having surgery. The treatment worked, but 18 months ago, he developed an abcess on a tooth and the oral surgeon extracted it and he then developed an infection which was treated with antiobiotics for six months or more. He developed a wound on the underside of his face about four months ago , just under the jaw and the head and neck surgeon we've been seeing at Northwestern put him on clindamycin several times, but it as soon as he gets off the antiobiotic, the oozing and pus begin again. The head and neck surgeon is urging my husband to have a jaw reconstruction soon. However, a good friend who is a doctor, although not a head and neck specialist, is urging us to see an infectious disease specialist to see if IV antibiotics would help. Our head and neck surgeon feels that we would only lose time this way and that more of the jaw would die requiring a more extensive jaw surgery.

I would so appreciate if anyone has had any experience with this--dealing with an infectious disease specialist. Is there any likelihood that his IV therapy would work. I'm worried that we would lose time. However, I'm not looking forward to my husband having to undergo this rough surgery. The infectious disease specialist has told him it is "a horribly disfiguring surgery."

Any input would be appreciated.