Had Sinus Surgery a Little over 4 Weeks Ago. Why Do I Still Have a Lot of Dissolvable Packing in my Sinus Cavities?

Question

Sinus surgery 4 weeks ago. Dissolvable packing is decaying, terrible smell with nausea. Started irrigation per physician instructions. Why is it still there?

A. Joshua Zimm, MD · Answer

It really depends on what kind of dissolvable packing is there.  If it's starting to smell, there may be some bacterial colonization, and it should likely be removed.  You can also be placed on some antibiotic irrigation as well.

Garrett H. Bennett, MD · Answer

Most dissolvable packing will be long gone at one month. Irrigating the nose with a saline neti pot will help wash out any remaining crusts. If you have exposed bone in the nose from a trimmed inferior turbinate or a septal perforation then this can crust and cause a bad odor for months as well. After sinus surgery it is important to have regular visits to the surgeon for debridements to remove crusts. If the odor persists for another month you might consider a second opinion.

Had Sinus Surgery a Little over 4 Weeks Ago. Why Do I Still Have a Lot of Dissolvable Packing in my Sinus Cavities?

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