Anyone else had surgical clips left in their neck after surgery?

Posted by sapphire1158 @sapphire1158, Jul 24, 2023

Has anyone else had surgical clips left in their neck after surgery

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I had Ameloblastoma surgery (upper right sinus cavity) with a FFF in 2021. And yes, I was aware of and can see the paramagnetic titanium clips in my right neck from where they connected blood vessels, etc. (see attached x-ray from 2024). The neck incision scar is barely visible (in a neck wrinkle).

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Profile picture for ssalava @ssalava

I had Ameloblastoma surgery (upper right sinus cavity) with a FFF in 2021. And yes, I was aware of and can see the paramagnetic titanium clips in my right neck from where they connected blood vessels, etc. (see attached x-ray from 2024). The neck incision scar is barely visible (in a neck wrinkle).

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Thirty one years ago I had a thyroidectomy (Cancer) Well yesterday I had to have a lung biopsy and guess what showed up in the x-ray. Surgical clips due to minimally invasive Thyroidectomy!
I read this at midnight last night in my patient portal, to say the least I was floored. For thirty one years during X-rays,-CT scans MRI's, PET scans, Bone density, nothing nada! I tell everyone nope nothing in my body but fat! lol Why is this not well known to the patients? I would have remembered being told that! Anyway I have had trouble with my neck for years I am wearing a soft neck collar at this minute afraid of reinjury. I do have back issues so that is what they put it on but now I am curious. Will have to look into this further.

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Thankfully most, if not all, of this remnant hardware is titanium, a paramagnetic metal that poses no danger for MRIs, CT Scans, etc. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paramagnetism But you're right about the concern about not knowing what is in your body.

I had an MRI for my right knee and told the technician I had no metal in my body. During the MRI, I could feel my thumb heating up and had to move my hands behind my head for the duration of the knee MRI. As it turns out the wooden splinter that I thought my body had absorbed was actually a metal splinter/shaving from my mailbox. And it had been covered up during the healing process. Needless to say, I had to go to a hand specialist to have the metal splinter removed/cut out.

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Yes I have clips after my surgery. I didn’t know until I read in my chart.

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Profile picture for suzannekay753 @suzannekay753

Yes I have clips after my surgery. I didn’t know until I read in my chart.

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I found out I had surgical clips after an xray

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Profile picture for nikole81 @nikole81

I had a hemi-thyroidectomy 7 months ago and had a neck and back xray performed last month.
The report says surgical clips are present. I have an email into my doctor because I am worried. I wouldn’t think it’d be normal to leave something foreign in the body. I’m shocked by the comments on this thread saying they have still have surgical clips present. I’m thinking about a possible infection setting in even though I’ve had zero symptoms.

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I have clips and plates left from my lateral left mandible excision and replacement more than 7 years ago. Because of osteoradionecrosis, the procedure will be done again. Hardware will be removed.

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I have surgical clips in place after a mandiblectomy five years ago. Am I in violation of some sort of medical law? I don't understand the concern otherwise. I still make it through airport screening.

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I did not realize I had the amount of them in my neck at least 30, I saw all of them in x-ray when I went to get implants. and can't get those they say. I'm looking on Amazon now LOL. It stinks without the ability to chew almost anything. I wish the best for everyone ! Just remember we are still here and live each day with positive thoughts and laugh a lot . Really like this site

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Profile picture for sapphire1158 @sapphire1158

Thanks I had a X-ray and saw they were there after my neck dissection- I was concerned because I was as scheduled for an MRI-

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I asked about,the clips and MRI since I also have MS and have MRIs often. Docs said no problem. I just finished whole brain and spine series and clips were not an issue.

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Sandy I was just shocked with the number of them. I go every 3 months for CT MRI but I don't see them. I just go see the DR and he always says everything looks good. LOL but it does not feel that way.

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