Titanium implant concern after cholesteatoma

[Guest guest]

Hi,

I am new to the website, but not to the " cholesteatoma " world. I am

looking for information to help my 7 year old son who had an extensive

congenital cholesteatoma removed when he was 5 years old. The surgery

went well and one year ago he had his second surgery to check for

regrowth and to implant a titanium prosthesis to conduct hearing.

Unfortunately after the surgery, he got an itchy rash that progresses to

open sores in random areas of his body that gets staph infection in. No

medication or treatment has been able to resolve this rash for the past

year and we are concerned that he may have a titanium allergy to the

implant (although this is very rare). We have seen 6 dermatologists and

infectious disease doctors and have seen his ear surgeon twice in trying

to treat this and no one is able to identify it. We are currently

seeing an expert pediatric dermatologist at Duke University and have an

appointment to see an internationally known allergy expert. He has had

blood tests, a nickel patch test, a skin biopsy, and a lymphocyte

transformation test to metals. The skin biopsy is suggestive of

chemical contact dermatitis and a lymphocyte transformation test showed

slight reactivity to titanium. The doctors and surgeon are unsure if

the titanium implant is the cause of the skin rash, but can not rule it

out. I would very much like to rule out the possibility of his implant

being related to this ongoing chronic skin rash. I have read published

information on titanium allergy and know that it is possible. I am

looking for more information from others who have had titanium ear

implants and if your body has had reactions.

For everyone who has been recently diagnosed, Do your research and

don't just settle on any ENT to do the procedure!!! I would recommend

that you find a surgeon who has done a fellowship and is a specialist in

both otology and neurotology.

Thank you - Judy