50/60 year old Amnesia Victim Savannah, GA Thread #2

[Chloekins]

This is true. We don't know since they did not mention with certainty any physical characteristics such as birth marks or scars.

I have never been able to visually see the possible surgical scar on BK's neck in the photos...so I have no idea how large or small it is either.

Another thing we have to consider is that the family of BK may not be aware of those scars or injuries he has sustained. We don't know if this is his first bout of amnesia or how long he could have been estranged from his family before now.

I am trying to understand how the physicians at the hospital who nursed BK back to health don't know the exact procedure done to his elbow if there are pins and plates. A simple x-ray would be able to detect if it was due to a break, a shatter, or something else. (pins and plates should have numbers which are traceable, too) Also, they should be able to tell if he definitely had surgery to his spine via the neck area.

I have never heard of a drainage tube being used on the outside of the face for an abcessed tooth. This doesn't make sense to me. (Maybe someone can enlighten me.) I found a case where a woman was in critical condition due to an abcess and altho they did use a needle to aspirate, a drainage tube was only used in the neck area and not on the face or jaw. (This could explain his neck scar.) http://www.cda-adc.ca/jcda/vol-67/issue-6/324.html

Sorry to double post but perhaps this will help a little. Abscesses are normally very difficult to heal. Depending on whether the abscess was superficial or deep would decide whether aspiration would be sufficient or if indeed surgical intervention would be needed. In the event of deep tissue deterioration, one would need to cut open the tissue in order to access the infected area. After the wound is cleaned and removed of all cellular and tissue debris the wound would be packed with sterile gauze. The gauze would need to be changed frequently and the area cleaned to ensure that healing occurred without the reoccurrence of pus formation. In deep tissue abscesses scar tissue is almost a guarantee especially in the face/neck area.

I am not familiar with dental abscesses and how they are treated but Im sure this doesn’t stray too far from the steps in which they treat. I didn’t want to go into too much detail and gross everyone else out. lol

 

[Chloekins]

Did you happen to ask what damage could occur if a person was floating in the ocean with the hot, August sun beating down on them for an extended period of time without any way to shield the eyes?

haha no I didnt go into that much detail. I will call him later after my rotations and ask that specifically.

 

[SeriouslySearching]

Thanks, there probably isn't an answer for it...but doesn't hurt to ask. : )

On the other thread, I had many questions I would like answers to about BK. Maybe I should bring them over here and we could try to get those answers from somewhere.

 

[SeriouslySearching]

Sorry to double post but perhaps this will help a little. Abscesses are normally very difficult to heal. Depending on whether the abscess was superficial or deep would decide whether aspiration would be sufficient or if indeed surgical intervention would be needed. In the event of deep tissue deterioration, one would need to cut open the tissue in order to access the infected area. After the wound is cleaned and removed of all cellular and tissue debris the wound would be packed with sterile gauze. The gauze would need to be changed frequently and the area cleaned to ensure that healing occurred without the reoccurrence of pus formation. In deep tissue abscesses scar tissue is almost a guarantee especially in the face/neck area.

I am not familiar with dental abscesses and how they are treated but Im sure this doesn’t stray too far from the steps in which they treat. I didn’t want to go into too much detail and gross everyone else out. lol

So if it were due to an abcess...he would have a straight scar due to an actual incision then possibly the rounded scarring seen with drainage tubes. Right?

(Sorry for the detailed questions...just trying to pinpoint exactly what could have occurred to cause his unusual facial atrophy or scar. Past medical or dental history with unusual characteristics could help identify him.)

 

[phenolred]

Ok this got me to thinking about something my husband had on his back, and he had it removed. It was a cyst under the skin, the size of a golfball. He took forever to go to the Dr because he was scared what they might say. It started bothering him. They said it might have started from an ingrown hair, and just grew into this LARGE CYST. My hubby scar look alittle like the indention on BK's jaw. They removed the cyst it was like a capsule, and it left quite a hole, they packed it with gauze.

But what I am getting at is maybe it was a cyst or boil I have been looking alittle on google and it seems these to happen on the face as well.

My husbands was surgically cut and removed but it looks like an indention with a cut line near it.


here is a little bit of something I found.



If a cyst appears to be growing, if it hurts or itches or if it's swollen and oozing profusely, it may be showing signs of serious infection," says Jack L. Lesher, Jr., M.D., associate professor of dermatology at the Medical College of Georgia in Augusta. "You'll need to see a dermatologist to have the cyst surgically removed or treated with antibiotics."
There's also a chance of severe infection after a cyst bursts or ruptures, so be sure to see the doctor if this occurs.

 

[SeriouslySearching]

That would be a possibility. Still...we can't tell if there is a straight incision which coincides with the scar we can readily see. I thought it might be something we could narrow down. Perhaps not.

 

[Chloekins]

I wasnt able to talk to my friend for very long but I was able to get a basic answer from him. He wasnt too keen on the situation I presented due to how many variables that would be involved in such a case however, he did have this to say. If an individual was exposed to the sun for long periods of time with open eyes such as the situation in which you hypothesized the overall damage would be solar retinopathy. The retina itself would be completely damaged and blindness would be complete. This would be irreversible. Since this did not occur with Mr. Kyle he was more inclined to believe that this was not the case. He said to make any true diagnosis he would have to review the patients chart and subsequent surgical write up. I did get him to admit that he wouldnt expect such minimal damage as cataract formation from that sort of scenario. I hope this helps.

As for the cysts or possible abscess. A draining tube is usually only used in abscesses where there is great deal of blood, pus formation, and necrotic debris. I have seen abscesses of the neck that were so bad that continual draining were needed. This is getting into major surgery and the patient is usually in the hospital for a period of time. With cyst or small abscesses the before mentioned procedure is usually sufficient. Of course every case is different and i am merely hypothesizing with the information available.

The scar that would be left is just as you would imagine. Scarification would be more intense the more invasive the procedure. So a simple draining and packing would leave less of a scar then insertion of a perpetual drainage tube.

Please bring all of your questions I dont mind in the least answering anything medical.

 

[SeriouslySearching]

Thanks, Cloekins! It does help answer some of my questions.

I am just trying to figure out if there is anything in his medical history or dental history that could set him apart from others.

 

[Chloekins]

Im going to get my hubby to enhance the picture that clearly shows the scar to see if I can get a closer look.

update: I have taken a closer look at the scar and I think it was either a cyst or a tumor that was removed possibly relating to the salivary glands. The scarring appears to be the same that one would see with a penrose drain. Im no oral surgeon but I am having a hard time believing that this scar was merely the result of treatment for dental abscess. Thanks to PhenolRed for making me think about all the possible mandible associated tumors and cysts on the way home. ; )

 

[SeriouslySearching]

That would make more sense to me, too. I hadn't thought of a cyst or a tumor either...but I knew it wasn't gelling for me for it to be an abscessed tooth.

 

[Chloekins]

That would make more sense to me, too. I hadn't thought of a cyst or a tumor either...but I knew it wasn't gelling for me for it to be an abcessed tooth.

you know what is really bugging me? The fact that he seems to remember certain things but not others. For instance he thinks he remembers an abscessed tooth, possible reconstruction on his elbow, the name Benjamin, 3 brothers (or was it sons?), the state of Colorado, etc. Something is just not jiving for me and I cant put a finger on it. Bah.

 

[marysawol]

you know what is really bugging me? The fact that he seems to remember certain things but not others. For instance he thinks he remembers an abscessed tooth, possible reconstruction on his elbow, the name Benjamin, 3 brothers (or was it sons?), the state of Colorado, etc. Something is just not jiving for me and I cant put a finger on it. Bah.

I agree with you. It's almost as if he's saying something without saying it,,does that make sense?

 

[Chloekins]

I agree with you. It's almost as if he's saying something without saying it,,does that make sense?

Exactly! Its interesting because I had to ask my hubby to enlarge and enhance the photo of his scar for me and as a result I had to tell him Mr. Kyle's story. The first words out of his mouth were "Maybe he is hiding something".

Which if he is why would he be willing to have his story go to the media? Unless he knew that there was no way anyone would ever recognize. Hmmm. Its all so very strange and I do hate to think this way but its the natural skeptic in me.

 

[Earthbound Misfit I]

Why would he go to the press to try and find out who he was if he knew there would be no chance of being recognized? What would his purpose for doing that be?

Exactly! Its interesting because I had to ask my hubby to enlarge and enhance the photo of his scar for me and as a result I had to tell him Mr. Kyle's story. The first words out of his mouth were "Maybe he is hiding something".

Which if he is why would he be willing to have his story go to the media? Unless he knew that there was no way anyone would ever recognize. Hmmm. Its all so very strange and I do hate to think this way but its the natural skeptic in me.

 

[Chloekins]

Why would he go to the press to try and find out who he was if he knew there would be no chance of being recognized? What would his purpose for doing that be?

Good question. I honestly dont have an answer that really works for me. The only thing that comes to my mind is perhaps his refusal to agree would seem just too suspicious. The only reason I brought this up is that I think all avenues of thought should be explored, even the ones we dont want to acknowledge.

There are hospital records for this gentleman somewhere. A surgeon/s worked on this man three times( elbow, mandible area and a cervical disectomy). He has medical records and a history somewhere. I cant believe this day in age that someone can just appear out of seemingly thin air.

edited: altered number of surgeries to three

 

[Earthbound Misfit I]

You are right. There are medical records somewhere. But, when did BK have the surgeries? Where? They could have happened anywhere. How many doctors are there per state that could have performed those surgeries? How many of those doctors have seen the recent articles on BK? How many of those doctors may not be practicing anymore? If BK had the surgeries long ago what are the chances the doc who did the surgery would remember him by a photo of what BK looks like today? BK says it's like he lost the past 20 years of his life so if he recalls the surgeries somewhat does that mean the surgeries were performed over 20 years ago?

Good question. I honestly dont have an answer that really works for me. The only thing that comes to my mind is perhaps his refusal to agree would seem just too suspicious. The only reason I brought this up is that I think all avenues of thought should be explored, even the ones we dont want to acknowledge.

There are hospital records for this gentleman somewhere. A surgeon/s worked on this man three times( elbow, mandible area and a cervical disectomy). He has medical records and a history somewhere. I cant believe this day in age that someone can just appear out of seemingly thin air.

edited: altered number of surgeries to three

 

[Chloekins]

You are right. There are medical records somewhere. But, when did BK have the surgeries? Where? They could have happened anywhere. How many doctors are there per state that could have performed those surgeries? How many of those doctors have seen the recent articles on BK? How many of those doctors may not be practicing anymore? If BK had the surgeries long ago what are the chances the doc who did the surgery would remember him by a photo of what BK looks like today? BK says it's like he lost the past 20 years of his life so if he recalls the surgeries somewhat does that mean the surgeries were performed over 20 years ago?

Those are all very good questions. It seems this would be the best of our avenues to explore but when they are all laid out like that they seem down right daunting in their immensity. I know for certain that cervical discectomy alone has been around since the 40s and who knows what was done concerning the reconstruction of his elbow.

He has missing teeth, however they do not know whether this was a previous incidence or in relation to the beating he received. I think it would be safe to assume that at least dental work could easily be done 20+ years ago.

I know someone mentioned this earlier but what an odd way for a 40/50 year old man to phrase the state of his memories. Does this mean that there are things that he remembers between the ages of birth-20/30 yrs and then after that it is a blank? If so what are those memories? Is he maybe holding back details in order to verify those who come forward with identities?

 

[Earthbound Misfit I]

I find it odd that they wouldn't know if his tooth loss was as a result of his being beat or if it was because of a prior incidence? If it happened prior to his being beat wouldn't his gums have been healed somewhat as opposed to if it happened because of the beating the sockets wouldn't be healed?

ETA: Weren't the only injuries that were noted by paramedics the 3 indentations to BK's skull that could have come from being hit with a blunt object, sunburn, cataracts that could have come from long term exposure to the sun & many, many fire ant bites? How would those injuries account for the missing teeth?

He has missing teeth, however they do not know whether this was a previous incidence or in relation to the beating he received. I think it would be safe to assume that at least dental work could easily be done 20+ years ago.

 

[SeriouslySearching]

The fact he could not provide them with any medical history means they should have run every test imaginable to try to determine a reason for his amnesia and to clear him medically for internal injuries from a severe beating. Previous back/spinal plus elbow surgeries should have been found during the course of testing...shouldn't they? If so, why are they only guessing now?

There are many things we are not getting answers for here and I asked a lot of questions his nurse should have been able to answer easily...such as inquiries about his overall hygiene, dental hygiene, beard growth, etc. when found.

What did the toxicology reports show? Was he an alcoholic or drug user?

 

[Al_B]

I some how don't think they would have tested for anything and everything He is a uninsured they'd only do enough to keep him alive and it's all that's required I think