I had my metalware (7 screws & 1 plate) removed, 15 months after a Weber C fracture. Strangely for me, US/Canadian surgeons often even leave syndesmotic screws in place, even fully expecting these screws to break, once weight bearing is commenced. "It does take up operative time that could be used for other purposes"? Yep, I think that might be the main reason. This operation does not pay much and when I talked to an Australian surgeon, he was only willing to take the metalware out in conjunction with an arthroscopy, charging a couple of thousand of extra dollars for the entire procedure. The doctor also advised that he would not be willing to hand me the metalware after the operation. So I decided to head to Europe (Berlin), where I had all metalware removed for a couple of hundred Euros, versus in excess of A$3,000 in Australia. My surgery happened 6 days ago and I feel terrific. No more pressure in that area and totally worth the long journey. Always consider that surgeons are also business people.
Removal of hardware is a controversial topic. In general, hardware removal should be considered when the hardware is symptomatic. Broken hardware is actually often asymptomatic and can remain in place permanently with no negative effects in many cases. You are correct that syndesmosis screws often will break and are left in. I am sure the reason to not remove hardware varies but the main reason is likely a desire to avoid the risk of surgery if it is not absolutely necessary.
@@TalkingWithDocs Jeah i have a radiusfractur and got a metal plate with 4 screws in it and an ulna fracture with one screw very close to the wrist and i have problem number 2 and 3
Hi docs! Christmas of 2016 I was snowboarding and had an unexpected fall resulted in shattering my left elbow (distal humerus fx etc), had ORIF with plates and screws. I think it was a pretty severe injury, I suffered lots of joint stiffness and pain. My bones are healed per my ortho team. Nov of 2017 my ortho doc noticed a small bone grow in the joint in the way of flexion, but said it's my choice if I want to have surgery to take out the bone growth (since he's in there already, he'd take out the implants too). I wanted to try my best with conservative measures of recovery and wanted to rule out the pain is not just a healing process but actually from the implants, so I waited. Now (Aug 2018) I'm still having pain, unable to bear much weight, some joint stiffness; though range of motion is improved, it's not 100%, and I'm just modified in my daily functional stuff. Should I go forth with the surgery given this status? My recovery from 1st surgery for trauma was pretty brutal, would this round of surgery be theoretically better & quicker? I'm a 34 year old female, active lifestyle (pretty bummed due to this injury). I have a hard time finding studies about outcome of hardware removal for specifically my type of injury in the US. I would love to hear your opinion!
Hi Winnie. So a fracture of the distal humerus is a difficult fracture that often results in pain and reduced range of motion after surgery. The risk of hardware removal is that you have ongoing pain, ongoing stiffness or possibly a nerve injury. This is something that is always best discussed with your surgeon. You need to decide if the disability you have now is acceptable or not and if not, what are the chances that this surgery will reduce your disability. It is often a very difficult decision. Hopefully that helps a little.
I was hit by a car while on a scooter in Canada recently. Tibial plateau fracture, acetabulum fracture, and hip dislocation, and a small radial head fracture on my arm all left side of body. I am 3 weeks in, already noticing lower back pain and soreness around the area of incision/hip. Non weight bearing on left leg for 8 weeks total, so I can’t really tell how my walking will be yet with both feet. Already hopping 150 ft with a walker and doing much better because of ortho rehab inpatient. 2 week CTs showing osteoarthritis. I’m 25 with previous history of joint pain, arthritis, and sciatica. Hoping the pain subsides more eventually, but for 3 weeks I’ve made awesome progress!
I had a recent surgery for removal of ORIF PLATING in Right hand radius-ulna after 3 years of its implant insitu. Most importantly DUE TO lag screw in ulna,it gets to be a complicated surgery lasting nearly 6 hours for its removal through HOLLOW MILLS. Also there's a fracture in ulna resulting for INTERMEDULLARY NAILING .....I'm hopefull for removal of the Nail As soon to get back to my routine...
I fractured each side of my ankle and my tibia🤦🏻♀️ i have incisions of both side of my ankle and a metal plate and screws placed. I have an appointment with orthopaedics next week as i can feel my plate, i have so much pain and pressure coming from surgical site and still cannot fit a shoe on 16 weeks later due to the pain. I worry what the doctor suggests but he's the professional and I'll try anything😢
Hi I’m glad I came across this video, I have been having excruciating pain in the ankle with metal plates and screws , surgery was 4 years ago, I just had X-rays done it shows the bone has healed,The pain is on the outer side of the ankle , and shoots up pain where I can’t sit , bend or walk, as the pain on the lower leg is intense, I had an MRI to check for sciatica, doctor said there is some bone lose very minor and maybe the nerve is making contact with bone, but I am not sure it’s sciatica as the pain starts where the plate is, just wanted to know if you have ever heard of that type of pain from ankle plates. Thank you so much for anything you can say.
I had surgery 4 weeks back. Same I have plate with 5 screws . I m age 28 . Can I know what is your age now . U told that ur bone was total healed right. So u can remove your plate . What your doctor total on this?
Back in January of 2015 my son broke his upper right femur while at hockey practice. The orthopedic surgeon placed a rod in the bone and 4 metal screws (2 high and 2 low) in the bone to hold the rod in place. Three years later and my son tells me he is beginning to feel discomfort from where the screws are. We've consulted a orthopedist while he was being seen for a totally different injury this year (2017-18) and he said that it's up to him whether he wants to have surgery to remove the screws. My question(s) is, if he has surgery to remove the screws, will they also remove the rod in his femur or will that be left in? Will he also have to undergo post surgery physical therapy or just a few days of bed rest and recovery?
I had my screws removed from my knee, but my rod was left inside my femur. They said if it's not bothering you then to leave it. The screws in my knee however was pitching me from the inside over the years.
@@Danny-hv9ox i JUST had that screw by my knee removed 2 weeks ago. I left the rod in though (reinforced femur? Why not lol). That screw was pinching pretty bad. I also had plates and screws removed from my right fibula, left radius / ulna and right radius. Main reason was because my left arm was still hurting at the gym even after a year and a half from my accident. If any1 is thinking about removing hardware wants to know an update just reply and ill reply back at that given time. God bless!
@@Sebas_tian_ sir i have my plates and screws in my left forearm just had surgery 3 weeks ago. how long will ever go bck to normal. and how long did it stay to your bones the plates screws in your radius and ulna before you removed it.
@@Sebas_tian_ lots of injuries, wow. I just fell on Christmas morning and shattered my radius and broke my ulna. Also displaced wrist bones. No hand surgeons available due to the holidays so I had a hellish 16 day wait for surgery. I am allergic to most metals. So he found a polycarbonate plate but unfortunately titanium screws. PS there’s no such thing as 100% pure titanium despite what Drs say. There’s ALWAYS trace metals. Titanium is soft, nickel and cobalt are hard and cheap. Sometimes trace metals cone during manufacturing. In any case my pain and swelling and discoloration are worse than before surgery so I am hoping to get this shit removed asap! I was in great shape and very flexible before but not have already lost 90% of my arm muscles in just this month of inactivity. Since surgery I go to therapy but can not bend fingers or move my wrist. Pain is awful despite pain medication. I cannot imagine how long until I can lift weights or do arm balances (yoga). Really bummed.
@REVOLUTIONARY hey how are u and to everyone else.. so it's been 5 months or so since I had the metal removed. My arm feels GREAT. seems like the screw that was backing out was definitely causing the pain. My arm is now fully healed and I even got back into the gym. Been pushing and curling decent weight with no trace of the previous pain. I had to wait this long due to a Tendon being very inflamed as well from the removal process but I can tell u I'm extremely happy with the results from removing the hardware. Unfortunately my foot did receive permanent damage and will eventually need an ankle replacement but for now I'm not complaining. Happy I can still walk. Every case is different and for me it's been a very positive outcome from removing the hardware.
Lol. I appreciate your honesty guys ! Cutting to the chase with no fucking about. I assume also that the material used now are better. Like is it Titanium ? So if there are no problems , it stays in. ?
I broke both my bones in my right forearm really badly(kinda looked like I had 3 elbows) in 7th grade, and I had this surgery. Other than a little nerve damage and aches every so often, it has been a little over 2 years and I'm great. Also I love Canadian doctors.
Just had my plate removed from the top side of my 5th metacarpal today... plate was causing irritation to the proximal end of my finger and had caused adhesions of the flexor tendon, so underwent tenolysis at the same time... hopefully this fixes my pain and joint stiffness, 15 months on from the original reduction/fixation surgery!
I have 2 plates in right arm. The one on the side I can feel it running my fingers along it. I can’t see it but can sure feel it and if in the sun it heats up. The other plate doesn’t bother me. I’m curious however is the pain about the same as getting it out as it was going in. I like to listen to drs best advice. Sadly the dr who did this surgery passed away last year to ask.
So yes pain is comparable however you don’t have the broken bone pain to deal with. There are some risks. Maybe talk to another local surgeon. Best of luck
@@TalkingWithDocs Thank you for the answer. The pain with the plate on the side of my wrist hurt. I don’t want the same pain. I do want to say thank you to both of you. I have a high respect for ortho drs!!
Had a left hip femoral acetabuloplasty april 17th for pain in hip/groin. Pain came back in 2019 and saw a hip replacement surgeon. Said most peoples femur should be 10 degrees forward. On my CT it showed left side at -16 degrees and right side at 5 degrees. He recommended a femoral osteotomy for left hip, which I had done November 5, 2019 and was inpatient after for 4 days. It was a cannulated plate and screws. Been in physical therapy since dec. 3rd and finish jan.30th. Was on crutches 30lb max weight bearing until dec. 16 appt with surgeon. Was then allowed full weight-bearing on leg, with both crutches, progressing to one crutch. Finally able to walk without crutches last week. At 3 month post-op visit jan. 20, 2020 finally released back to work at mcdonalds. At work I am a closer working back drive thru window-washing dishes. Should I be worried about anything at work? Will i ever have to get my hardware removed, If I ever need hardware removed will surgery/recovery be as lengthy as when hardware was put in? Would i have to use crutches/do more physical therapy after removal surgery? How does a femur get femur rotated that much backwards? With the right side at 5 degrees will I ever have to do something to that side in the future?
Hi Janet. That is a lot of questions. First, congrats on your recovery thus far. The main reason for version abnormalities (or how much the femur is rotated) is related to position in the womb and genetics. You may or may not have to do something about the other side. Pain will be your guide. As for hardware removal, it will often be done at the time of a hip replacement or can be done as a staged procedure before hip replacement. Best to discuss all of these options with your treating surgeon. Recovery is easier as you do not have to allow the bone time to heal. Regular work should be ok. Let pain and common sense be your guide. Good luck and thanks for watching.
@@TalkingWithDocs on april 15th, 2021 getting the cannulated plate and screws removed from my hip/leg. Was starting to get pain on that side when sleeping on that hip. Also am getting popping sounds when laying on that side. Hopefully recovery is quicker than when femoral osteotomy was done. Still gets lots of pain in groin area and surgeon has no ideas on how to help that.
Hello, once the hardware is removed from the ankle, when would it be a good time to start with Physiotheraphy? As the numerous screws removed leave behind a lot of holes in the bone. And also when would one switch from partial weight bearing to full weight bearing keeping in mind about the holes in the bone and not to risk cracking them? Thank you in advance.
Hi G A. It is impossible to give specific advice to your situation without examining you and your xrays however generally speaking physiotherapy would start once the wound is healed - often around 2 weeks. As for weight bearing it would depend on your exact procedure but often patients are able to nearly full weight bear very early on. Ultimately it is up to your treating surgeon who you should discuss this with.
I thought they’d have to cut the flexor tendon open to get to the buried medial epicondyle screw that’s good to know the flexor tendon could be pulled out of the way on the medial epicondyle and I subscribed to you guys
Hi Mike. So just to be clear as we may not have totally understood your question. If you have a screw in the most prominent part of your medial epicondyle they would do a small stab incision 5mm or so to expose the screw head and then back it out. The common flexor insertion is a very large broad area so there is not specifically a tendon in That area. Hope that clarifies things.
I broke my ulna and radius in half 23 years ago (17 years old, I'm 40 now). I had metal plates installed at the time to put the bones back together. I never removed the plates. All good.
Talking With Docs I shattered my middle knucle in three different pieces now I got surgery for 4 screws and a plate, I am 14 years old and I still am growing they never told me if the plate is going to be removed.
Hi docs. Love the videos...you two are so 'down to earth' and represent how all docs should relate to their patients. Quick question. I am about 5 weeks post op from a bimalleolar fracture (8 wks post injury). I believe I may be feeling the plates/screws, but am not sure. At what point would I be able to tell? I'm assuming it would be difficult to tell now, considering the ankle is still very swollen and I am still experiencing pain (controlled with Ibuprofen). Also, how long does it typically take to get to the point where one is relatively pain free following this type of fracture? I am beginning physical therapy in a week or two. Thank you!
Hi Adam. Thanks for the kind words. It would typically take 3-6 months for the swelling to go down and the bone to heal. Having said that patients often improve out to 1 year and beyond. Discuss it with your surgeon but a lot of the pain can be related to the procedure rather than specifically the hardware. Hope that helps. Good luck and thanks for watching.
@@TalkingWithDocs Thank you so much for the reply. As a recent (first time) surgery patient, I have a recommendation for a future video: post-op care, in terms of what to expect regarding healing of the wound(s), as well as potential complications. I had a scare regarding calf pain, and was sent for an ultrasound to rule out a clot. Just an idea!
I was implanted D.H.S 7 years before at the age of 61 years , now , the screw was hurting the head of femur and one surgeon asked me to get the hardware removed. I got it removed 3 moths before but I have been feeling fracure like pain at the place where the plate removed and in the head of femur. I got its x ray , the radiologist said the femur has become compressed I am in doubt either I shall be able to walk as a normal.
Sorry to hear this Kushi. Sometimes the femoral head can die from the fracture. Best advice is to get assessed. Worst case is a hip replacement is the salvage procedure. Thanks for watching and subscribing
Considering having ORIF removed on humeral head. Having second thoughts. May not elect for removal as I'm sort of doing well with it 18 months on. Thanks for any advice and your videos. All the best from the UK
You are welcome Mark. It is important to have a specific goal for hardware removal. If you have minimal pain and good range of motion, leave it in! Stay safe in the UK! Thanks for watching and subscribing if you did.
@@TalkingWithDocs my latest surgeon's outpatients appointment they told me it hadn't healed. A Non Union they call it. Suggested I have a bone graft from my hip grafted in and redo to screw and plate with a longer plate! I'm going to tell him on 22nd Jan that considering there is no guarantee of success and it may make it worse I may leave it. As long as I don't overdo it the humerus should be ok as it is am I right? I understand you can't see my x-rays and CT but thanks for your advice
What if you break the bone again while the hardware is in. And also i was given a metal rod and my doctor said that eventually it will just disappear into the arm. I have had two rods in my radius and ulna for 7 months and im about to have surgery to take them out in a few weeks
Hi DriftSlayer101. So if you break with hardware in place, you will break above or below it. The hardware will not disappear. Good luck with your surgery. Thanks for watching, subscribing and sharing if you did.
I’m paranoid that a screw is loose in my cervical fusion. Like PARANOID to the point I’m creating psychosomatic symptoms If I decide to take it out it will cost me a lot out of pocket. What are the chances that this hardware can loosen?
I amputated my pinky last Thanksgiving. I sawed through the top 3 mm of the second bone in the pinky, destroying the joint. The surgeon put in a screw to hold the bones together so that the first and second pinky bones grow together. This was done in January (5 months ago). Should I get it removed? The injury has caused more inflammation in my hands, thus more arthritis, especially in the other pinky. The surgeon wants to take it out in a few more months. But I don't see the point.
Hi Doctors, I have a metal plate & screws on my fibula bone. I want to do a detox with zeolite or bentonite, because the town water is contaminated, & I have all sorts of health issues, because we were never told... But I read that when mixing the zeolite with water to drink daily to detox, that you should not use a metal spoon, or the zeolite will draw out metal ions from the spoon, that will go into your zeolite solution, then into your body. So that has made me question whether the zeolite is just going to get attracted to the metal plate in my leg, & not take any toxins out of my body at all. Thoughts? I am hoping that you will tell me, that the metal plates & screws are coated or not prone to metal ion breakdown..
My mom's hardware keeps getting infected... her wounds won't heal bc of the hardware. She's gonna have to get this big plate and screws out. She's had the hardware in there since the 1990's!! When she got in a car accident
I have a plate and 11 screws in my left femur. I am not able to run or bend my leg fully, my leg shocks me if pivot fast or stop suddenly. I know my metal and its scar tissue has impeded on my life greatly and it would probably be in my interest to have it removed, but I am so heavily traumatized from the accident that caused the intial break that without the metal I would be in constant fear of breaking my leg again, as I already have been diagnosed with ptsd from the event. I hate being in pain and unable to preform physical tasks but I can’t handle another surgery, everytime a doctor has tried to touch my leg I go into severe ptsd attack mode, no idea what to do with all of this.
Hi Zizzy. It is normal to be worried about rebreaking your leg. You would require a short period of reduced activity after removal but refracture is actually very rare. You could discuss this with your treating surgeon. Good luck with your decision and sorry you are having such a difficult time. Stay safe. Thanks for watching and subscribing if you did.
I had jaw surgery almost 20 years ago. Titanium screws in my upper and lower jaw and extender in my upper palate. A few years ago I started having some sensitivities to cellular/wifi/bt (pins and needles in my hands mostly). I also used a NuFace electric device on my cheeks/jawline and am wondering if that could have set off my implants (I no longer use it). When I turn on the cell phone I sometimes have sensation in my jaw/tooth/nasal area- heat, tension, and metallic taste. I know that psychosomatic manifestations can be very convincing but could there just as well be something real happening, and if so what should I do about it?
Hi Mia. See your doctor and get an xray to check the position of the hardware and then make a decision if there is a role for removal. Best of luck. Thanks for watching, subscribing and sharing with someone if you did.
It has been 6 months since ORIF of my bimalleolar ankle fracture which was fixed with a plate and 5 screws. Plus additional 2 screws into the fibula and 2 screws on the lower end of tibia. I have pain every day and it is swollen all the time. I have big knot next to my ankle bone. I also do not have full ROM in my ankle. I also have had tender lymph nodes in my neck which started a few weeks after my ankle surgery. I am wondering if I am sensitive to the metal and where do I start to evaluate my situation. Wondering if all the hardware should be removed.
Hi. So the symptoms in your ankle are likely related to your injury. There is always the possibility of an allergy to the metal but this is actually very rare. If you have nodes, you should see your doctor to rule out more common things. Good luck to you. Thanks for watching and subscribing if you did.
@@TalkingWithDocs yes they going go in clean it out put new hardware in they also want to take bone from my leg fibula what if hardware is causing allergic reaction
I'm 16 and I have two plates, one each on my left-hand radius and ulna about 80% of the way to the wrist that have been in place for going on 5 years. I occasionally have very rare pains (only ~once every 2+ months, lasting for a minute or two) in the area. I've still considered having them taken out since I'm not a fan of having foreign objects inside of me. I have some concerns, though. First off, I'm deathly afraid of surgery and anesthetics, although that doesn't really matter. Second, to access the radial plate, the incision was made on the underside of my forearm right along some tendons and nerves. The very edge of the incision (closest to my hand) tingles when I touch it, likely because it is touching a nerve. Will reopening that incision damage any surrounding nerves?
Hi Jacob. Your concerns are very valid. Any time you have to go back through an old incision there is scar tissue and there could be damage to the surrounding blood vessels or nerves. Having said that, there is also that risk during the first procedure. Second surgeries do have slightly higher complication rates. The bottom line with hardware removal for us is that if it is not causing significant pain, we recommend to leave it in. Hope that helps.
I actually ended up getting them out a bit over three years ago now. They did go in through the old incision, but since my arm had grown longer since the initial surgery, the incision had moved forward relative to the plates, so the new incision was further down and fortunately did not go through the tingly portion at the front near my wrist which likely would have caused nerve damage. I'm pretty glad that I bit the bullet and did it, though. Hitting or pressing on the plates was pretty uncomfortable, but it feels so much better to only press on solid bone now. Plus, the bone was losing density and weakening around the middle of the region. However, since I waited so long, the bone fused to the screws pretty well, so much so that some of the screw heads sheared off due to the torque the doctor had to subject them to and left the threaded shafts stuck inside, some of which poke out the top side of the radius and are kind of uncomfortable if I press on the soft tissues in that region. Ideally I would like to again go back into the old incision on the underside of the radius and use a hole-saw-type drill to cut out the bone material around the shafts instead of making a new incision on top (which would only require grinding down the protruding ends - no bone removal) since I'd rather not have a large scar on the top side of my arm that would be more visible.
Hello, I had a lisfranc fracture in the medial cuneiform. I have 5 screws and a plate. I’m 5 months post ORIF and now I have a partial tear and severe inflammation in my extensor hallicus longus. Surgeon and ultrasound technician are unsure if the plate partially cut the tendon . I’m feeling quite extreme pain when walking or standing but no pain at all when I’m just sitting not using it. Overall my midfoot feels very stiff . Do you recommend HWR and/or surgical repair of EHL tendon ?
Hi Biana. It is difficult to say. You may require removal and repair if the tendon is identified as the specific issue. Your injury is quite significant and often patients do not experience a full recovery. If you are very limited considering removal and repair sounds very reasonable. Best of luck to you. Thanks for watching and subscribing if you did.
@@halamanmahiwaga2063 surgeon accidentally left one screw in so had to have a 3rd surgery but I'm all good. Bone pain disappeared after I got the hardware removed. Leaving them in is a terrible idea in my opinion.
@@shortlineslalom was it painful after the removal then how long did you stay in the hospital after removing the hardware? How long did the hole in the bone to be fill in with new bone?
I'm 36 years old, 6.1 ft tall and weigh 112 kgs. I broke my tibia and fibula from the middle10 months ago, it wasn't a open fracture. ORIF was done but my bones took way too much time to heal. Dynamization was done 7 months back by removing a screw to speed up healing. Yet, I have just started walking without a stick as the xray finally showed a union after 10 long months. Given the enormous amount of time it took to heal, after how much time should I think about getting the rod removed? I want to get it removed basically due to two reasons, 1) I don't want any issues due to the hardware in my old age, 2) If, god forbid, I break my tibia again, the rod will bend and will complicate things a lot.
Hi Sreeraj - we feel you should wait 1-2 years to have the hardware removed. But more importantly, only have it removed if it is specifically causing some of your symptoms. Often hardware can remain in place permanently.
Hi plankton !?. Sounds like that would hurt. Best to see your treating surgeon to discuss the risks and benefits of having them removed. Best of luck to you. Thanks for watching.
Hi Abdirahiim. Sometimes you leave the screws in. The surgery for removal is variable but typically would be less than 1 hour. Thanks for watching and subscribing if you did
I fractured my knee the i have I have one plate and screws all the way around the knee they're removing the the hardware can I walk without crutches after removal of the hardware I recently had rotary cuff repair on my left shoulder I am now parsley out of the brace the block has been removed from the brace the hardware was putting on June 11th of this year they're now setting it up to get their hardware removed they had to a plug into the bone to feel some of the damage
After having screws and plates in my ankle for 10 years, I’m finally feeling pain and discomfort, especially in the snow. Last year I had multiple knee operations on the opposite side, and favoring the ankle has made it more annoying. Should I consider having them removed?
I'm having problems with discs above my hardware from l4/s1. The disc at l3 looks prolapsed but my hardware is effecting mri so my surgeon has opted to remove my hardware which has been in for 28 years.
Hi, thanks for the information. I have a pelvic fracture and it causes me to have an internal fixation, like the plates, and metal screws in my pelvis. It's been a year since I had the surgery, when is the best time to remove it? Thank you so much for responding.
I had my metal plate, bicycle chain, and screws placed in my jaw in 2011. For years I have dealt with major pain in my jaw, crooked jaw, and I believe damage to some of my teethe. The pain can often be unbearable and I think the left side at least is on a joint. Has it been too long for a removal? Or can I still do it? If I can still get them removed, who would I consult? Thank you for any help in advance I am grateful.
Hi James. It can be removed but can get harder with time. Best advice is to talk to your prior surgeon or another oral surgeon to review risks and benefits. Best of luck. Thanks for watching and subscribing
Hi Dr's, I had a trimalleor(ORIF) fx & 2 torn ligaments a yr ago. I haven't really had alot of pain until 4months ago & progressively worse. I have pain from the arch of my foot to my toes, and this is what confuses me. I have trouble moving my toes bc of pain. I thought I broke my foot bc(xray was neg.) it is so painful, especially all night. My pain is from the medial side only. Do u think this could b from hardware.
Hi Ann. There are many causes of foot and arch pain. It may be related to your surgery however because it was a year ago, it may be a new problem. It is always best to start with an xray (which you did). If that fails to show any pathology, usually a trial of non operative treatment including NSAIDs, physio and possibly an orthotic would be a good starting point. If the pain persists, further investigations including an MRI may be warranted. Best to discuss with your healthcare professional. Thanks for the questions and thanks for watching.
I have a screw in my wrist and now its limited moving after surgery 8 months 16 days, but doctors dont want take it off, bone is healed and he says im doing wrong training he sendend me to medicine sport, but i feeling after fixed it needs get out this stupid screw and its causing pain and limited moves
Hi Phoenix. Sorry to hear that. Removing the screw will not necessarily improve the range. Usually wait at least one year. Good luck. Thanks for watching and subscribing if you did
I have an up coming infusion on the third toe the Dr is wanting to do I have an over size bump under my third toe which I've had for years .. from a previously broken my big toe which I had to had surgery and rods put in.. IF I go through this third toe fusion op will this remove the bump under my foot and what possible out come can I expect from the procedure
Best of luck Ricky. Best advice is do what you are told and once allowed to exercise work really hard. All the best. Thanks for watching and subscribing
Would love some feedback. I had a cervical fusion 3 years ago. My neurologist who I've seen twice in the past 6 months never ordered or looked at any of my xrays. I went on got xrays on my own and it showed that 2 screws are broken and I possibly have a fractured vertebrae. Do you think my neurologist should have ordered xrays or asked to see my xrays after 2 visits of complaining about the pain? Thanks in advance...
Love the Karate Kid pic. In general, when assessing patients with new or persistent symptoms after surgery that included hardware, an xray is a reasonable place to start. The decision to order those tests would be determined by the findings on history and physical examination. Broken hardware can mean many things. If you are having ongoing symptoms related to surgery, it would not be unreasonable to review this with your treating surgeon or you could bring them for your neurologist to review. Hope that helps.
I had rib reconstruction in 2017. My left rib was noticeably larger than my right rib thus recieving surgery. The procedure I got included metal hardware. Fast fowarding to 2019, I feel pain but it is on occassions that I feel discomfort. A couple weeks ago I talked with my surgeon and decided to remove the metal implants next week. Should I proceed with the surgery? I want to make the best decision. I also feel "click" sounds when I breathe. My doctor checked my x Ray's and said that the metal is loose
Hi Michael. So any hardware removal has some risk. The risk depends on the location and the local blood vessels, nerves or other important structures. If the hardware is symptomatic or broken, it is reasonable to remove it. Risks certainly should be discussed with your surgeon before removal. Good luck and keep us posted.
Just got surgery. The metal plates were removed from my ribs. I have a question though. Why is the side where I didn't get surgery more noticeable? As in my side profile... I can my ribs more. I also notice a bone from the xiphoid process a little more. I was wondering if that is normal.
I've just had all my hardware removed and feel so much better already. The wound from the op hurts of course but my mobility is so far much improved and it's only been a week since getting it all out. Very glad I listened to my gut and pushed for the removal, the surgeons were hesitant but I believed it was worth a go and now I'm very relieved I did. The pain from the hardware that was in my ankle was getting no better even after a years time in recovery. You know your own body, listen to it and your gut and if you know something is wrong don't take "I don't know"/"I'm not sure" as an answer from your doctors. Things can only get worse in time if you leave them untreated. Peace and love to anyone reading this, I wish you wellness and safety :).
Thanks for sharing your own personal experience, I found it useful. I too am currently struggling with mobility issues and ongoing pain in my ankle which I think is because of these screws and plates, even after going to physical therapy 2 days a week for over 6 weeks now. I wholeheartedly agree (with you) about listening to your gut and doing what you think is best, especially listening to your own body. My surgeon too is reluctant to remove them, but I'm going to keep pushing for removal after waiting a year. Although I'm fully aware of the consequences I'm willing to take the chance.
I had an L1 burst fracture, with spinal fixation done over a year ago (from T11 to L3). It reduced my mobility, and the surgeon who did the fixation told me it was better to remove that hardware to put less strain (over many years) on the surrounding vertebrae. I just got the hardware removed and already I feel so much better!
Cuiv, The lazy Geek. I was wondering what kind of pain you were having before they took hardware out? I have T12-L1 fused 4 years ago and now it feels hardware is causing problems. Thanks for sharing your story!
@@Boudreaux911 For me it was mostly a constant kind of pain right under one of the fixation rods getting worse with exercise, along with very easily feeling fatigue and strain on the area around the hardware. Commuting on crowded Tokyo trains during the rush hour always had those symptoms come up, so it wasn't great for work. Lying down from time to time helped a lot though...
I have a t11-l3 fusion almost two years ago. I find the hardware to be pretty painful bu I've been extreamly nervous about another surgery and having it removed. Has anything gotten worse since having it taken out?
@@clintdarquea3719 It's much better since I got the hardware out. I basically feel like I'm back to normal, as I was prior to the accident! No pain or anything. I'm 38 though, so I'm still relatively young.
I had a bimalleolar ORIF in December and it healed just fine. Then 6 months later my roommate’s cat bit my ankle right on the scar which led to a MRSA infection of my ankle and emergency surgery for hardware removal the day before my college graduation! I made it to graduation in a wheelchair with a huge cast and hooked up to a drainage bag LOL but it could’ve been a lot worse. I’m glad we caught it before it became septic. Moral of the story: always get things checked out and don’t wait until the last minute. Now I’m just waiting for my incision site to heal and to finish my course of antibiotics 😊 hopefully all my ankle drama is finished
Hey thanks for taking the time to educate us! I had an open fracture on my tib/fib and a spiral fracture on my femur and I have 2 IM rods. I am experiencing large amount of pain above the kneecap whenever I extend my leg, it feels like the IM rod is pressing into the joint, it's only been 6 weeks since the operation, but I feel like my PT exercises are causing me more and more pain, and causing the knee to become more swollen. I am only 21 years old, if I am adamant to get all the hardware out, can I get the screws and rods out at the same time? Do I get the femur rod out first?
Hi spencrob. So you've had a lot of surgery. There are a few things that can be causing the pain above your patella. It is always important to see your specialist for an examination and if you have severe pain a new xray to make sure everything is where it needs to be. As far as removing hardware, if the femoral rod was put in retrograde (from the knee), you may be able to have them out through the same inicison. If not, you could still consider having both out at the same time. Usually you would have to wait at least a year and would want to ensure complete bony union. Open tib/fib fractures have a tendency to take longer to heal. Just don't start smoking as it will delay bone and wound healing. Good luck!
Ahh that makes sense doc, I must have 3 screws at the top of my femur rather than the usual 2. I gather they would have used the incision above the knee for both the femur and tibia rod. I have taken your advice from another video and today I bought myself some vitamin D to ensure I am sufficiently nutriated. In regards to smoking I stopped cold turkey after my accident, I hope I get union, because I would be suicidal if they have to replace this nail due to non-union. This surgery is pretty cruel and if I had the option of an external fixation device I would have leapt at the opportunity. Thanks for your help docs!
But isnt the leg stronger than before?. Removing it only takes 15 mins some surgeons say. Mine with the metal work, fractured fib and tib 2 years repaired after surgery. Safe to do downhill skiing? Or teakwondo?
no not safe if you ski again and break it in the same place.The hardware will then cause serious problems and may result in ruptured arteries due to the sharp fractured hardware
I had ORIF for a broken ankle 14 months ago. A metal plate and 6 screws were installed. Two screws went through the ankle bone. The ankle screws rubbed against any shoe I tried and every step was painful. I had all hardware removed 6 weeks ago. It’s no longer painful. The ankle is a little stiff, but I am hopeful it loosens with exercise. Even if it doesn’t, the pain is gone, and the 13 minutes in the OR was totally worth it.
Alex! You are too kind. Doing our best to keep the channel informative and somewhat entertaining. All the best. Thanks for watching and subscribing if you did
i had a humours fracture arm wrestling and when the plate was installed they had to move my ulnar nerve the plate sticks out a bit to the point its visible at the elbow will this cause any problems and should i still get it removed the plate knowing ill have my nerve moved again will this damage the nerve even more then it already is im 23
Is it necessary to remove my screw? I had dynamic hip screw on March 3 2018 my bone healed but im afraid about removal of this due to long recovery and if it is necessary when to remove.
Hi Peter. The vast majority of hardware can remain in place. The main indication for removal would be local pain or if the screw was doing damage to the joint. Good idea to discuss this with your surgeon but they usually stay in. Thanks for watching.
Hi i had surgery 2 weeks ago for a broken wrist. I now have a plate. Your explanations for leaving the plate in are informative. However, i understand that plates have only been used since around 2000. Therefore, i am concerned of the long term effects of keeping the plate in. So any stats on the long term effects will not be older than 18 years. I am trying to make an informed decision about whether to have the plate out. My gut feeling is to eventually remove this useful, but alien, object! Thank you for your help.
Dude I'm not trolling you at all. These guys are Canadian Universal Healthcare Asshats. I had two metal plates and twelve screws on my left forearm implanted 13 years ago. They bothered me the whole duration of the time. I just recently got them out about two months ago and the difference is mindblowing. If a doctor tells you no, go to another doctor. Spend the money do whatever you have to do just GET THOSE OUT
@@halamanmahiwaga2063 Give it 6 months to be on the safe side. I had 2 plates on that bone and I'm back to normal. I'm so happy with the decision to get the plates out
Hey dr. I had broke my right hand both bones where i had it operated and put plates and screws on it. Its been around 10 years. But there is always problems with my hand movements for example when I write or when I type on PC for a long time. Also when i lift in the gym my hand is a handicap as it hurts and i cant put pressure on it. Should I take out the material? Please help
Hi I broke my hips when I was 16 now I m 26 years old and my legs is so much hurt when it’s cold when I walk and get tired and making me hitch if I will remove plates am I gonna be alright ?
Yeah that happens with me too. I had an ankle surgery with a plate and screws. Whenever I ride a bike or it becomes so cold outside it starts to hurt. I don't know what to do!
@@wg_gamer8496 on 7th January this month I got them removed. Now my cuts are healing. I didn't took a step from 7th January. Now I'm trying to walk. But whenever I put whole weight it feels like my ankle is electrocuted. It's a scary sensation@@
I broke my tib and fib in 1999 , I had a plate put in 2000. Off course it hurts occasionally in wet or cold weather. Used to it now. But I doubt these are genuine medical consultants. A dr will never advice a plate removal
Hi Docs, love your videos. I fractured my wrist 1 1/2 years ago and had a titanium plate and screws put in. Seven months later had hardware removed due to pain. Removal went well and dr found a neuroma, cauterized and buried it in screw hole and held with bone wax. Still had discomfort and pain but went for months of occupational therapy and felt well for 3 or 4 months. One day kept flexing wrist and now have had pain almost daily that doesn't resolve except while sleeping. Went for a second opinion was blown off. Dr took many x-rays and kept saying "not bad". Wrist healed straight. I requested another ultrasound trying to rule out nerve or tendon problem. Dr. said what he was able to see looked good. MRI after hardware removal showed some mild tendinosis. I am at wit's end about what to do. I keep telling myself I had felt well and can get back to that point. It really takes a toll on your mind when a dr says you might have this forever. It also hasn't been a year since removal. Any encouragement or suggestions would be much appreciated. Have you ever heard of success with acupuncture? Dr would not give cortisone shot. He said skin is too thin and discolored. Thank you in advance. I find it incredible that you take the time to answer all these questions.
Sorry to hear this Doreen. It can be complicated and often a specific cause of the pain cannot be identified. Acupuncture is worth a try. Cortisone same. Maybe topical medication. Physio. Best of luck to you. Thanks for watching and subscribing
Thank you so much for your response. I'm telling myself that if I was able to feel good for 4 months post hardware removal, I can get to that point again. Believing that is more than half the battle. Thanks again!
Hi Athuljith S. So they will probably not get loose. And yes you can go to the gym. Hope that helps. Good luck. Thanks for watching, subscribing and sharing if you did.
@@TalkingWithDocs I’m 15 I fell 40ft and I’ve broken my spinal cord, pelvis bone and back bone they put in screws, plates and rods in my back and I healed up in 1 month but to be exact 3 weeks with no physical therapy thanks for the tips :)
Hi Dinelie. Thanks for the question. It depends on the hardware you have in place and would best be discussed with your treating surgeon. Thanks for watching.
Hi dr i am from nepal Please please suggest me I had surgery 15 years before because of my humarus fractured so i had 2 screws and two wires in it. I am planning to removed it so I would like to know i am doing right or wrong please share your experience and thoughts thanks
Hello doctors i m 36 and i would just like to share my story and ask a question if i may. I broke my elbow 2 years ago by falling very hard on it and so they put screws in it ( it felt very strange) and after around 3 months later maybe 2 inches from from the top of the elbow my humerus bone broke ( i guess it was shattered from the fall aswell) so i had to go for another immediate surgery but this time they took out the screws from the elbow and put a whole plate coming from the middle of the humerus bone attaching down to the elbow. Anyways, its been 2 years, i d say it recovered but my arm just doesn't feel the same no more, very stiff and i m scared to go to the gym or do push ups ( i use to bodybuild and do boxing so it annoyes very much because i know it will never be the same, lost my confidence). My question is, do you think i should take it out or leave it there forever? My surgeon said it should be there for ever, but i m thinking maybe if i take it out it wont feel as stiff anymore but then again i m thinking if i take it out the arm may break again due to do being weak, what do you think? Sorry for the long message, wanted to ask. Also, i can feel the plate on my elbow sticking out and when i do stretch my arm sometimes or most times its like a needle pain.
Hey! I've been struggling with this question (whether ir not to remove my hardware ) because i had a scoliosis correction surgery 8 years ago, when i was 14. Since the last year my scar has been infecting on and off, to the point that, when it heals, it forms a depression on the skin. I wonder that, if i do proceed with the removal, how are holes the vertebrae supposed to heal ? Is there any bone density loss after the removal? Will i be able to continue weightlifting sports? Would love if someone could advise me and answer my doubts. Thank you!
Anything about Removal they don't want to talk to you about. How else do they make money if you're well and never depend on medications! I took mine out regardless and I feel great! You're the person in pain. Doctors won't know how it feel unless they are the patients period.
@@Dounjikootsvet your comment is so on point, I broke my ankle in 3 parts and I've got a lot of metal work that I want removing. It's so painful and as I'm quite slim it's very prominent and it's such a struggle to sleep or even go about my day. The problem is the Dr is only wanting to remove part of it and not all at once. I'm pushing for it all to be removed at once or if he doesn't agree to get refered to the hosiptal I got treated (which is not local to me as it happened in a diff city). It's so hard to persuade them But I'm going to keep fighting and not give up. At the end of the day like you said how will the Dr know the full effects, it's we as individuals who have to go through the agony and stress 😣.
Got out of surgery yesterday only had 2 screws put in my ankle. Anxious and scared was a understatement. Got nothing but massive appreciation to these doctors and nurses (first time ive had to have any op done)
Hello sir I'm very nervous, I have plate in my skull because of blood clot and now when I touch my head I can feel the screw is it OK sir? Because I don't want do that all over again... Please reply doc
Hi Srishti. So prominent hardware is common. If it hurts, you can see your surgeon to discuss removal. Hope that answers your question. Sorry for the delayed response. Thanks for watching and subscribing if you did.
Thank you so much for this very informative video. Had fibula plate put in on Oct. 31st. It drove my mad crazy hopping around with my walker on one foot for six weeks. I'm at 50% weight-bearing and in therapy, I am so anxious about recovering during the winter months in MI. I'll be doing the best I can, just hope we don't get a lot of snow and ice. Thanks again.
Hi Silver Fox. You are very welcome. So sorry to hear that you broke your ankle and had to have surgery. Time to look forward to your recovery. Yes the snow can be tricky - we know it up here in Ontario. Best advice is to go slowly. Good luck and thanks for watching.
Hi 😊.. i also just had plates fixed on my fibular..was hoping if you'd be able to give an update on how you are doing now. Just so i can know what to expect. Thanks
Hi Talking Docs, I had genioplasty about two years ago and my chin has not been the same since because it still feels swollen/stiff. I think I might be allergic to the metal, if that’s the case Is it possible to have the four 2mm screws\plates removed? Please let me know
Hi Sarah. Yes it is possible. There are risks associated. And sometimes the swelling is from the surgery not the presence of the metal or an allergy which is actually quite rare. Best to talk to your surgeon about your goals. Good luck. Thanks for watching, subscribing and sharing with someone if you did.
Thanks chaps and I found your advice very useful and pragmatic. I have an old tibia metal plate and 5-odd screws which have been in for over 40 years and have not intention of having them removed if I can help it - though a TKR may not be easy. Whilst I am sure the older 'Doc' won't like me saying so, the combination of you two Doctors as the younger, enthusiastic and questioning Doc and the older, dry humoured, sage Doc works well (!).
Thanks so much Johnny. Truth be told we are pretty close in age and trained together. Good luck to you and stay safe. Thanks for watching and for subscribing if you did.
Thanks for this video! i recently got a plate in my foot and was confused about a lot of things that might come in the next 1-2yrs. This clarifies a lot of doubts and such a to-the-point video... THANKS!!!!!!!!!
At 59, I broke my ankle in 2015. its been a year and I am trying to make a decision on removal. My GP said exactly what you did, why go through surgery if its not bothering me. Thank you for confirming.
Talking With Docs I had acl hamstring surgery three and half years ago and I feel pain in tibia and couldn't walk more than 1mile .could you tell me what causes would be possible. no swelling just pain and little bit stiffness
Talking With Docs ...Hi I had hardware put in at l4/s1. My surgeon has opted to remove it as my disc at l3 has a problem but mri's are a problem because my hardware is effecting the pictures. My hardware has been in for 28 years.
Hi, I had my surgery at 16 I was tall and the doctor told me my forearm was like a fully grown adults I have since grown and am 21 my arm is slightly shorter there has been no serious problems but I want to get into kickboxing it hurts when it gets hit but nothing major should I remove it ?
Hi owen. If there is significant pain and you are going to enter into a sport where that part of your body is going to be kicked regularly, it may be worth at least discussing it with a surgeon. Have some xrays to get an updated view and go from there. Removing and retention are probably both reasonable options. Hope that helps. Best of luck and thanks for watching
I’ve got 4 plates in my jaw, 2 on my mandible and 2 bigger ones in the front. Can’t keep a sleeping schedule, get insomnia quite regularly and it aches badly especially with weather changes. Been thinking about having them removed but not sure
Best to discuss the risks and benefits of removal with your surgeon Jeremiah. Best of luck. Thanks for watching, subscribing and sharing with someone if you did.
I had a ankle fracture 20 years ago, at the age of 12. 4 rods were placed inside which were tied with wires. Now I want to get the rods and wires removed. Docs saying it's a very risky surgery, as bone scraping might be needed to remove and maybe some part cannot be removed. I have little pain nowadays. Should I go for the surgery?
Like a few other comments here, I had plates and a few screws removed from my ankle one year after the original fracture. As an active 26 year old I couldn’t imagine living the rest of my life with foreign objects in my body. The risks with surgery were negligible in my mind. Only 3 weeks later and my mobility feels so much better. But everybody’s case is different
Is it possible that screws can cause scar tissue? I have 4 screws after a periacetabular Osteotomy on my hip and have dealt with a huge wod of scar tissue in my groin right in that area where the screws are. Had the scar tissue removed because of issues and it was back within a wk.
Hi Casey. That is possible. It is also possible that the pain you are experiencing is related to the arthritis and simply because you had a procedure. It is a multifactorial problem. Good luck. Thanks for watching and subscribing if you did.
LOL.. for rest of you.. To date I have a plate in my neck, my knee, my right arm, a rod full lenght of femur and one into my hip. I have had none removed. For the beating I have taken joints work damn good. So no worries about leaving them in.. side note.. there are good orthos and bad ones.. Shop around and dont be shy! Ask questions. Sometimes its just a doctor you dont get along with personality wise. But it means Tons when you love and trust your doctor. Ask Questions, and shop! if possible.
Hi bmnco. Thanks for sharing. We totally agree. Leave it in if you can. And try and find a doctor you like and trust - not every pair is meant to be. Thanks for watching.
Hello I am 15 year old I broke both bones in my arm about 7 months ago and I got six screws in the radius if I’m not mistaken. Do you think I should get the screws removed because I might still grow or what do you think I should do. Thanks
Hi Ben. We typically recommend hardware to stay in place. Some of that decision would depend on your growth status though. Best to discuss with your treating who can assess how much growth you have left. Best of luck to you. Thanks for watching and subscribing if you did.
I'm Fennie from Philippines and I'm currently suffering a tibial plateau fracture and I'm still waiting to be operated. It's been more than 2 weeks since the accident happened and when the time I rushed to the hospital they get my x-ray two times because the one who assisted me said he didn't see any fracture on my x-ray the thing that keep it hurting is because your muscle is swelling, just wait for the final result of your x-ray 5-7 days for now I can't see fracture. So he just give me medicine for swelling and pain reliever and released me and said I can go home. On the 7th day of waiting the final result of my x-ray, the ortho Doctor said that I have a tibial plateau. We're so devastated to hear that because we thought there's no problem and we found out that the doctor who declared I have no fracture was not a doctor, he's a nurse. And now I'm still waiting to be admitted because the hospitals here won't cater me because it's been more than two weeks and I'm out patient it's not emergency they said and they don't give me referral slip when infact it's not our fault why I'm stuck here with a broken bone for more than two weeks now😭😭😭😭 I'm worried about what will happen to me since it's been more than 2 weeks I got my broken knee. I'm concerned about the risk.
Hi Fennie. So often fractures will be fixed with some delay. Usually this is not a problem. Every fracture is different. It is frustrating for patients to wait though. We wish you the best of luck. Stay safe. Thanks for watching and subscribing if you did.
Question: I broke my femur the beginning of 2015 I had a rod inserted & screwed into place. Since I was able to walk I was experiencing pain in the hip where they went in at and still to this day if I’m sitting a little funny or running it becomes irritated. Im thinking that removing it will make me feel a lot better I’m just not trying to go through surgery again. How long would I be on crutches again and will the surgery be as painful as the first?
I had my second knee surgery last July and had hardware replaced and a plate and 11 screws put in. The screw near the bottom on my knee cap never bothered me as much after my first surgery as it does now. It’s a lot more sensitive, and I can feel the screw head under my skin. My plate also has been causing me lots of issues, and I’m trying to figure out if I should get everything removed or not. My surgeon isn’t very…people oriented it seems, so he never really goes into detail about anything and kind of brushes off the questions I ask about it.
Hi Alexander. Yes it can be but it would depend where the plate is. The plate will not break but it may be sore. Good luck. Thanks for watching and for subscribing if you did.
Great video & channel Docs. I am 25 years old & fractured my elbow (olecranon) last October. So 6.5 months ago. I had a plate & screws put in that curves the corner of my elbow and is a “J “ shape. The surgery went quite well but I still seem to have quite some pain on the right side of olecranon (left arm) I feel that maybe getting the plate out could reduce this pain?? I play competitive golf and am trying to get back into weightlifting, but this always gives me some sort of pain when I do both. The hospital was Aurora St. Luke’s in WI. ANY insight would be greatly appreciated! & fantastic channel 👍
Thanks JAKE. So sometimes removing the plate can improve function. You just want to make sure that your pain is actually caused by the plate itself rather than being a consequence of the trauma and fracture of your elbow. Hope that helps. Best of luck. Thanks for watching, subscribing and sharing if you did.
Update: Great news! About seven months ago, I decided to have surgery to remove the screws and plate from my ankle to improve mobility and eliminate weather sensitivity. I'm so glad I did because now I no longer feel like I'm carrying this extra weight, and I can walk just as I did before, including fast when heading for a bus! One reason (but not the only one!) I decided to go through with this was reading the real-life comments on this site from people who had it done. I also knew two people who had the surgery and three who didn’t, mainly because their doctors didn't offer it as an option. By the way, I had an excellent surgeon (Northwestern) whom I trusted completely. Best of all he respected my wishes and didn't try to talk me out of it.
Thank you, doctor. I broke two bones in my forearm and have had hardware in place for over a year. I work out regularly, but sometimes I experience slight discomfort. Should I consider having the hardware removed ?
I just had the plate insurted surgically and this has been the most horrible pain and recovery. I cannot imagine undergoing surgery AGAIN and have my wrist cut open and have the plates removed. What HELL this has been!!
I have 2 screws in left ankle on right side. The heads of the screws are not there. My doctor thinks I should leave them because he feels that could be break when removing. However the one definitely hurts. What are your thoughts?
I had my metalware (7 screws & 1 plate) removed, 15 months after a Weber C fracture. Strangely for me, US/Canadian surgeons often even leave syndesmotic screws in place, even fully expecting these screws to break, once weight bearing is commenced. "It does take up operative time that could be used for other purposes"? Yep, I think that might be the main reason. This operation does not pay much and when I talked to an Australian surgeon, he was only willing to take the metalware out in conjunction with an arthroscopy, charging a couple of thousand of extra dollars for the entire procedure. The doctor also advised that he would not be willing to hand me the metalware after the operation. So I decided to head to Europe (Berlin), where I had all metalware removed for a couple of hundred Euros, versus in excess of A$3,000 in Australia. My surgery happened 6 days ago and I feel terrific. No more pressure in that area and totally worth the long journey. Always consider that surgeons are also business people.
Removal of hardware is a controversial topic. In general, hardware removal should be considered when the hardware is symptomatic. Broken hardware is actually often asymptomatic and can remain in place permanently with no negative effects in many cases. You are correct that syndesmosis screws often will break and are left in. I am sure the reason to not remove hardware varies but the main reason is likely a desire to avoid the risk of surgery if it is not absolutely necessary.
Hey 8strings Im thinking of having my hardware taken out, what hospital did you use in Berlin? thanks
@@R4W88 you dont have to go in a hospital in berlin there are plenty of good hospitals in germany i have to know it i live there
good thing we got a health insurance in germany so we dont have to pay for each operation only like 100 to 200 euros per months max
@@TalkingWithDocs Jeah i have a radiusfractur and got a metal plate with 4 screws in it and an ulna fracture with one screw very close to the wrist and i have problem number 2 and 3
Hi docs! Christmas of 2016 I was snowboarding and had an unexpected fall resulted in shattering my left elbow (distal humerus fx etc), had ORIF with plates and screws. I think it was a pretty severe injury, I suffered lots of joint stiffness and pain. My bones are healed per my ortho team. Nov of 2017 my ortho doc noticed a small bone grow in the joint in the way of flexion, but said it's my choice if I want to have surgery to take out the bone growth (since he's in there already, he'd take out the implants too). I wanted to try my best with conservative measures of recovery and wanted to rule out the pain is not just a healing process but actually from the implants, so I waited. Now (Aug 2018) I'm still having pain, unable to bear much weight, some joint stiffness; though range of motion is improved, it's not 100%, and I'm just modified in my daily functional stuff. Should I go forth with the surgery given this status? My recovery from 1st surgery for trauma was pretty brutal, would this round of surgery be theoretically better & quicker? I'm a 34 year old female, active lifestyle (pretty bummed due to this injury). I have a hard time finding studies about outcome of hardware removal for specifically my type of injury in the US. I would love to hear your opinion!
Hi Winnie. So a fracture of the distal humerus is a difficult fracture that often results in pain and reduced range of motion after surgery. The risk of hardware removal is that you have ongoing pain, ongoing stiffness or possibly a nerve injury. This is something that is always best discussed with your surgeon. You need to decide if the disability you have now is acceptable or not and if not, what are the chances that this surgery will reduce your disability. It is often a very difficult decision. Hopefully that helps a little.
I was hit by a car while on a scooter in Canada recently. Tibial plateau fracture, acetabulum fracture, and hip dislocation, and a small radial head fracture on my arm all left side of body. I am 3 weeks in, already noticing lower back pain and soreness around the area of incision/hip. Non weight bearing on left leg for 8 weeks total, so I can’t really tell how my walking will be yet with both feet. Already hopping 150 ft with a walker and doing much better because of ortho rehab inpatient. 2 week CTs showing osteoarthritis. I’m 25 with previous history of joint pain, arthritis, and sciatica. Hoping the pain subsides more eventually, but for 3 weeks I’ve made awesome progress!
Wow that’s a lot. Best of luck to you during your recovery. Thanks for watching and subscribing
I had a recent surgery for removal of
ORIF PLATING in Right hand radius-ulna after 3 years of its implant insitu. Most importantly DUE TO lag screw in ulna,it gets to be a complicated surgery lasting nearly 6 hours for its removal through HOLLOW MILLS. Also there's a fracture in ulna resulting for INTERMEDULLARY NAILING .....I'm hopefull for removal of the Nail As soon to get back to my routine...
I fractured each side of my ankle and my tibia🤦🏻♀️ i have incisions of both side of my ankle and a metal plate and screws placed. I have an appointment with orthopaedics next week as i can feel my plate, i have so much pain and pressure coming from surgical site and still cannot fit a shoe on 16 weeks later due to the pain. I worry what the doctor suggests but he's the professional and I'll try anything😢
Hang in there Megan! It will get better with time.
Hi I’m glad I came across this video, I have been having excruciating pain in the ankle with metal plates and screws , surgery was 4 years ago, I just had X-rays done it shows the bone has healed,The pain is on the outer side of the ankle , and shoots up pain where I can’t sit , bend or walk, as the pain on the lower leg is intense, I had an MRI to check for sciatica, doctor said there is some bone lose very minor and maybe the nerve is making contact with bone, but I am not sure it’s sciatica as the pain starts where the plate is, just wanted to know if you have ever heard of that type of pain from ankle plates. Thank you so much for anything you can say.
I had surgery 4 weeks back. Same I have plate with 5 screws . I m age 28 . Can I know what is your age now . U told that ur bone was total healed right. So u can remove your plate . What your doctor total on this?
Back in January of 2015 my son broke his upper right femur while at hockey practice. The orthopedic surgeon placed a rod in the bone and 4 metal screws (2 high and 2 low) in the bone to hold the rod in place. Three years later and my son tells me he is beginning to feel discomfort from where the screws are. We've consulted a orthopedist while he was being seen for a totally different injury this year (2017-18) and he said that it's up to him whether he wants to have surgery to remove the screws.
My question(s) is, if he has surgery to remove the screws, will they also remove the rod in his femur or will that be left in? Will he also have to undergo post surgery physical therapy or just a few days of bed rest and recovery?
I had my screws removed from my knee, but my rod was left inside my femur. They said if it's not bothering you then to leave it. The screws in my knee however was pitching me from the inside over the years.
@@Danny-hv9ox i JUST had that screw by my knee removed 2 weeks ago. I left the rod in though (reinforced femur? Why not lol). That screw was pinching pretty bad. I also had plates and screws removed from my right fibula, left radius / ulna and right radius.
Main reason was because my left arm was still hurting at the gym even after a year and a half from my accident. If any1 is thinking about removing hardware wants to know an update just reply and ill reply back at that given time. God bless!
@@Sebas_tian_ sir i have my plates and screws in my left forearm just had surgery 3 weeks ago. how long will ever go bck to normal. and how long did it stay to your bones the plates screws in your radius and ulna before you removed it.
@@Sebas_tian_ lots of injuries, wow. I just fell on Christmas morning and shattered my radius and broke my ulna. Also displaced wrist bones. No hand surgeons available due to the holidays so I had a hellish 16 day wait for surgery. I am allergic to most metals. So he found a polycarbonate plate but unfortunately titanium screws. PS there’s no such thing as 100% pure titanium despite what Drs say. There’s ALWAYS trace metals. Titanium is soft, nickel and cobalt are hard and cheap. Sometimes trace metals cone during manufacturing. In any case my pain and swelling and discoloration are worse than before surgery so I am hoping to get this shit removed asap! I was in great shape and very flexible before but not have already lost 90% of my arm muscles in just this month of inactivity. Since surgery I go to therapy but can not bend fingers or move my wrist. Pain is awful despite pain medication. I cannot imagine how long until I can lift weights or do arm balances (yoga). Really bummed.
@REVOLUTIONARY hey how are u and to everyone else.. so it's been 5 months or so since I had the metal removed. My arm feels GREAT. seems like the screw that was backing out was definitely causing the pain. My arm is now fully healed and I even got back into the gym. Been pushing and curling decent weight with no trace of the previous pain. I had to wait this long due to a
Tendon being very inflamed as well from the removal process but I can tell u I'm extremely happy with the results from removing the hardware. Unfortunately my foot did receive permanent damage and will eventually need an ankle replacement but for now I'm not complaining. Happy I can still walk. Every case is different and for me it's been a very positive outcome from removing the hardware.
I had a HTO about 10 yrs ago ,I feel the plate is giving me a hard time , I’m going to get it removed, thanks
Very welcome Charles. Thanks for watching and subscribing
Lol. I appreciate your honesty guys ! Cutting to the chase with no fucking about. I assume also that the material used now are better. Like is it Titanium ? So if there are no problems , it stays in. ?
I broke both my bones in my right forearm really badly(kinda looked like I had 3 elbows) in 7th grade, and I had this surgery. Other than a little nerve damage and aches every so often, it has been a little over 2 years and I'm great. Also I love Canadian doctors.
Hi Hjonk Am Goose. Thank you so much. So glad you are ok. Thanks for watching and subscribing if you did.
Same
Just found out I have tardy ulnar palsy in that arm so maybe not great lol
Just had my plate removed from the top side of my 5th metacarpal today... plate was causing irritation to the proximal end of my finger and had caused adhesions of the flexor tendon, so underwent tenolysis at the same time... hopefully this fixes my pain and joint stiffness, 15 months on from the original reduction/fixation surgery!
Hi Chris. Good luck in your recovery and hopefully the hand works better without the plate there. Thanks for watching.
I have 2 plates in right arm.
The one on the side I can feel it running my fingers along it. I can’t see it but can sure feel it and if in the sun it heats up.
The other plate doesn’t bother me.
I’m curious however is the pain about the same as getting it out as it was going in.
I like to listen to drs best advice.
Sadly the dr who did this surgery passed away last year to ask.
So yes pain is comparable however you don’t have the broken bone pain to deal with. There are some risks. Maybe talk to another local surgeon. Best of luck
@@TalkingWithDocs
Thank you for the answer. The pain with the plate on the side of my wrist hurt. I don’t want the same pain.
I do want to say thank you to both of you. I have a high respect for ortho drs!!
Had a left hip femoral acetabuloplasty april 17th for pain in hip/groin. Pain came back in 2019 and saw a hip replacement surgeon. Said most peoples femur should be 10 degrees forward. On my CT it showed left side at -16 degrees and right side at 5 degrees. He recommended a femoral osteotomy for left hip, which I had done November 5, 2019 and was inpatient after for 4 days. It was a cannulated plate and screws. Been in physical therapy since dec. 3rd and finish jan.30th. Was on crutches 30lb max weight bearing until dec. 16 appt with surgeon. Was then allowed full weight-bearing on leg, with both crutches, progressing to one crutch. Finally able to walk without crutches last week. At 3 month post-op visit jan. 20, 2020 finally released back to work at mcdonalds. At work I am a closer working back drive thru window-washing dishes. Should I be worried about anything at work?
Will i ever have to get my hardware removed, If I ever need hardware removed will surgery/recovery be as lengthy as when hardware was put in? Would i have to use crutches/do more physical therapy after removal surgery? How does a femur get femur rotated that much backwards? With the right side at 5 degrees will I ever have to do something to that side in the future?
Hi Janet. That is a lot of questions. First, congrats on your recovery thus far. The main reason for version abnormalities (or how much the femur is rotated) is related to position in the womb and genetics. You may or may not have to do something about the other side. Pain will be your guide. As for hardware removal, it will often be done at the time of a hip replacement or can be done as a staged procedure before hip replacement. Best to discuss all of these options with your treating surgeon. Recovery is easier as you do not have to allow the bone time to heal. Regular work should be ok. Let pain and common sense be your guide. Good luck and thanks for watching.
@@TalkingWithDocs on april 15th, 2021 getting the cannulated plate and screws removed from my hip/leg. Was starting to get pain on that side when sleeping on that hip. Also am getting popping sounds when laying on that side. Hopefully recovery is quicker than when femoral osteotomy was done. Still gets lots of pain in groin area and surgeon has no ideas on how to help that.
Hello, once the hardware is removed from the ankle, when would it be a good time to start with Physiotheraphy? As the numerous screws removed leave behind a lot of holes in the bone. And also when would one switch from partial weight bearing to full weight bearing keeping in mind about the holes in the bone and not to risk cracking them? Thank you in advance.
Hi G A. It is impossible to give specific advice to your situation without examining you and your xrays however generally speaking physiotherapy would start once the wound is healed - often around 2 weeks. As for weight bearing it would depend on your exact procedure but often patients are able to nearly full weight bear very early on. Ultimately it is up to your treating surgeon who you should discuss this with.
I thought they’d have to cut the flexor tendon open to get to the buried medial epicondyle screw that’s good to know the flexor tendon could be pulled out of the way on the medial epicondyle and I subscribed to you guys
Hi Mike. So just to be clear as we may not have totally understood your question. If you have a screw in the most prominent part of your medial epicondyle they would do a small stab incision 5mm or so to expose the screw head and then back it out. The common flexor insertion is a very large broad area so there is not specifically a tendon in That area. Hope that clarifies things.
I broke my ulna and radius in half 23 years ago (17 years old, I'm 40 now). I had metal plates installed at the time to put the bones back together. I never removed the plates. All good.
Hi Blake. We totally agree. The vast majority of hardware can stay in place for life. Leave them in!
Talking With Docs I shattered my middle knucle in three different pieces now I got surgery for 4 screws and a plate, I am 14 years old and I still am growing they never told me if the plate is going to be removed.
@Blake follet good to hear that the metal harware not bothering you at all..
Same with me...15 year's ago. Should I have removed it...??? Now
Hi docs. Love the videos...you two are so 'down to earth' and represent how all docs should relate to their patients. Quick question. I am about 5 weeks post op from a bimalleolar fracture (8 wks post injury). I believe I may be feeling the plates/screws, but am not sure. At what point would I be able to tell? I'm assuming it would be difficult to tell now, considering the ankle is still very swollen and I am still experiencing pain (controlled with Ibuprofen). Also, how long does it typically take to get to the point where one is relatively pain free following this type of fracture? I am beginning physical therapy in a week or two. Thank you!
Hi Adam. Thanks for the kind words. It would typically take 3-6 months for the swelling to go down and the bone to heal. Having said that patients often improve out to 1 year and beyond. Discuss it with your surgeon but a lot of the pain can be related to the procedure rather than specifically the hardware. Hope that helps. Good luck and thanks for watching.
@@TalkingWithDocs Thank you so much for the reply. As a recent (first time) surgery patient, I have a recommendation for a future video: post-op care, in terms of what to expect regarding healing of the wound(s), as well as potential complications. I had a scare regarding calf pain, and was sent for an ultrasound to rule out a clot. Just an idea!
thanks for reply
Welcome VK. Thanks for watching and subscribing if you did
I was implanted D.H.S 7 years before at the age of 61 years , now , the screw was hurting the head of femur and one surgeon asked me to get the hardware removed. I got it removed 3 moths before but I have been feeling fracure like pain at the place where the plate removed and in the head of femur. I got its x ray , the radiologist said the femur has become compressed I am in doubt either I shall be able to walk as a normal.
Sorry to hear this Kushi. Sometimes the femoral head can die from the fracture. Best advice is to get assessed. Worst case is a hip replacement is the salvage procedure. Thanks for watching and subscribing
Considering having ORIF removed on humeral head. Having second thoughts. May not elect for removal as I'm sort of doing well with it 18 months on. Thanks for any advice and your videos. All the best from the UK
You are welcome Mark. It is important to have a specific goal for hardware removal. If you have minimal pain and good range of motion, leave it in! Stay safe in the UK! Thanks for watching and subscribing if you did.
@@TalkingWithDocs my latest surgeon's outpatients appointment they told me it hadn't healed. A Non Union they call it. Suggested I have a bone graft from my hip grafted in and redo to screw and plate with a longer plate! I'm going to tell him on 22nd Jan that considering there is no guarantee of success and it may make it worse I may leave it. As long as I don't overdo it the humerus should be ok as it is am I right? I understand you can't see my x-rays and CT but thanks for your advice
What if you break the bone again while the hardware is in. And also i was given a metal rod and my doctor said that eventually it will just disappear into the arm. I have had two rods in my radius and ulna for 7 months and im about to have surgery to take them out in a few weeks
Hi DriftSlayer101. So if you break with hardware in place, you will break above or below it. The hardware will not disappear. Good luck with your surgery. Thanks for watching, subscribing and sharing if you did.
do you remove your metal plates and screws
have you remove your metal screws in ur ulna and radius
@@alfredthirdy9716 no not yet
@@alfredthirdy9716 because of covid it was delayed by a lot
I’m paranoid that a screw is loose in my cervical fusion. Like PARANOID to the point I’m creating psychosomatic symptoms
If I decide to take it out it will cost me a lot out of
pocket.
What are the chances that this hardware can loosen?
I amputated my pinky last Thanksgiving. I sawed through the top 3 mm of the second bone in the pinky, destroying the joint.
The surgeon put in a screw to hold the bones together so that the first and second pinky bones grow together. This was done in January (5 months ago).
Should I get it removed? The injury has caused more inflammation in my hands, thus more arthritis, especially in the other pinky.
The surgeon wants to take it out in a few more months. But I don't see the point.
Up to you. Fair to ask the goals of the procedure and make a decision from there. Best of luck
Hi Doctors, I have a metal plate & screws on my fibula bone. I want to do a detox with zeolite or bentonite, because the town water is contaminated, & I have all sorts of health issues, because we were never told... But I read that when mixing the zeolite with water to drink daily to detox, that you should not use a metal spoon, or the zeolite will draw out metal ions from the spoon, that will go into your zeolite solution, then into your body. So that has made me question whether the zeolite is just going to get attracted to the metal plate in my leg, & not take any toxins out of my body at all. Thoughts? I am hoping that you will tell me, that the metal plates & screws are coated or not prone to metal ion breakdown..
Hi Mary. We don’t think this would be a problem but you could also check with the zeolite people. Thanks for watching and subscribing
My mom's hardware keeps getting infected... her wounds won't heal bc of the hardware. She's gonna have to get this big plate and screws out. She's had the hardware in there since the 1990's!! When she got in a car accident
Yes if the wound won’t heal usually needs to come out.
I have a plate and 11 screws in my left femur. I am not able to run or bend my leg fully, my leg shocks me if pivot fast or stop suddenly. I know my metal and its scar tissue has impeded on my life greatly and it would probably be in my interest to have it removed, but I am so heavily traumatized from the accident that caused the intial break that without the metal I would be in constant fear of breaking my leg again, as I already have been diagnosed with ptsd from the event. I hate being in pain and unable to preform physical tasks but I can’t handle another surgery, everytime a doctor has tried to touch my leg I go into severe ptsd attack mode, no idea what to do with all of this.
Hi Zizzy. It is normal to be worried about rebreaking your leg. You would require a short period of reduced activity after removal but refracture is actually very rare. You could discuss this with your treating surgeon. Good luck with your decision and sorry you are having such a difficult time. Stay safe. Thanks for watching and subscribing if you did.
You guys Are such gentlemen
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I had jaw surgery almost 20 years ago. Titanium screws in my upper and lower jaw and extender in my upper palate. A few years ago I started having some sensitivities to cellular/wifi/bt (pins and needles in my hands mostly). I also used a NuFace electric device on my cheeks/jawline and am wondering if that could have set off my implants (I no longer use it). When I turn on the cell phone I sometimes have sensation in my jaw/tooth/nasal area- heat, tension, and metallic taste. I know that psychosomatic manifestations can be very convincing but could there just as well be something real happening, and if so what should I do about it?
Hi Mia. See your doctor and get an xray to check the position of the hardware and then make a decision if there is a role for removal. Best of luck. Thanks for watching, subscribing and sharing with someone if you did.
It has been 6 months since ORIF of my bimalleolar ankle fracture which was fixed with a plate and 5 screws. Plus additional 2 screws into the fibula and 2 screws on the lower end of tibia.
I have pain every day and it is swollen all the time. I have big knot next to my ankle bone. I also do not have full ROM in my ankle.
I also have had tender lymph nodes in my neck which started a few weeks after my ankle surgery.
I am wondering if I am sensitive to the metal and where do I start to evaluate my situation.
Wondering if all the hardware should be removed.
Hi. So the symptoms in your ankle are likely related to your injury. There is always the possibility of an allergy to the metal but this is actually very rare. If you have nodes, you should see your doctor to rule out more common things. Good luck to you. Thanks for watching and subscribing if you did.
Docs told me metal plate have stay cause I had bone removed from jaw benin tumor
It may have to stay
@@TalkingWithDocs yes they going go in clean it out put new hardware in they also want to take bone from my leg fibula what if hardware is causing allergic reaction
I'm 16 and I have two plates, one each on my left-hand radius and ulna about 80% of the way to the wrist that have been in place for going on 5 years. I occasionally have very rare pains (only ~once every 2+ months, lasting for a minute or two) in the area. I've still considered having them taken out since I'm not a fan of having foreign objects inside of me. I have some concerns, though. First off, I'm deathly afraid of surgery and anesthetics, although that doesn't really matter. Second, to access the radial plate, the incision was made on the underside of my forearm right along some tendons and nerves. The very edge of the incision (closest to my hand) tingles when I touch it, likely because it is touching a nerve. Will reopening that incision damage any surrounding nerves?
Hi Jacob. Your concerns are very valid. Any time you have to go back through an old incision there is scar tissue and there could be damage to the surrounding blood vessels or nerves. Having said that, there is also that risk during the first procedure. Second surgeries do have slightly higher complication rates. The bottom line with hardware removal for us is that if it is not causing significant pain, we recommend to leave it in. Hope that helps.
I see that mostly patients with wrist surgery are more happier removing the plates.
I actually ended up getting them out a bit over three years ago now. They did go in through the old incision, but since my arm had grown longer since the initial surgery, the incision had moved forward relative to the plates, so the new incision was further down and fortunately did not go through the tingly portion at the front near my wrist which likely would have caused nerve damage. I'm pretty glad that I bit the bullet and did it, though. Hitting or pressing on the plates was pretty uncomfortable, but it feels so much better to only press on solid bone now. Plus, the bone was losing density and weakening around the middle of the region. However, since I waited so long, the bone fused to the screws pretty well, so much so that some of the screw heads sheared off due to the torque the doctor had to subject them to and left the threaded shafts stuck inside, some of which poke out the top side of the radius and are kind of uncomfortable if I press on the soft tissues in that region. Ideally I would like to again go back into the old incision on the underside of the radius and use a hole-saw-type drill to cut out the bone material around the shafts instead of making a new incision on top (which would only require grinding down the protruding ends - no bone removal) since I'd rather not have a large scar on the top side of my arm that would be more visible.
Hello,
I had a lisfranc fracture in the medial cuneiform. I have 5 screws and a plate. I’m 5 months post ORIF and now I have a partial tear and severe inflammation in my extensor hallicus longus. Surgeon and ultrasound technician are unsure if the plate partially cut the tendon . I’m feeling quite extreme pain when walking or standing but no pain at all when I’m just sitting not using it. Overall my midfoot feels very stiff . Do you recommend HWR and/or surgical repair of EHL tendon ?
Hi Biana. It is difficult to say. You may require removal and repair if the tendon is identified as the specific issue. Your injury is quite significant and often patients do not experience a full recovery. If you are very limited considering removal and repair sounds very reasonable. Best of luck to you. Thanks for watching and subscribing if you did.
Thanks. Time to get mine out I think.
Hi Joel. Very personal decision. Usually get it out if it is bothering you. If not, leave it in. Best of luck and thanks for watching.
@@TalkingWithDocs Thank you. I had the 3 plates and 16 screws removed from my metatarsal bones yesterday.
@@shortlineslalom how you feeling now bro?
@@halamanmahiwaga2063 surgeon accidentally left one screw in so had to have a 3rd surgery but I'm all good. Bone pain disappeared after I got the hardware removed. Leaving them in is a terrible idea in my opinion.
@@shortlineslalom was it painful after the removal then how long did you stay in the hospital after removing the hardware?
How long did the hole in the bone to be fill in with new bone?
I'm 36 years old, 6.1 ft tall and weigh 112 kgs. I broke my tibia and fibula from the middle10 months ago, it wasn't a open fracture. ORIF was done but my bones took way too much time to heal. Dynamization was done 7 months back by removing a screw to speed up healing. Yet, I have just started walking without a stick as the xray finally showed a union after 10 long months. Given the enormous amount of time it took to heal, after how much time should I think about getting the rod removed? I want to get it removed basically due to two reasons, 1) I don't want any issues due to the hardware in my old age, 2) If, god forbid, I break my tibia again, the rod will bend and will complicate things a lot.
Hi Sreeraj - we feel you should wait 1-2 years to have the hardware removed. But more importantly, only have it removed if it is specifically causing some of your symptoms. Often hardware can remain in place permanently.
Sreeraj, did you ever get it removed? I have the exact same concerns as you and am thinking about removing metal from tibia in a few months
How are you now sir? Thanks
I have 3 metal plates in my skull and they can really hurt sometimes and I really need them to be taken out
Hi plankton !?. Sounds like that would hurt. Best to see your treating surgeon to discuss the risks and benefits of having them removed. Best of luck to you. Thanks for watching.
I also have titanium plates and 38 screws in my skull/jaw. I feel like some are loose.
Hi dr my surgery is ankle that special talus and had connected 2 screws
How does long take remove screws
Hi Abdirahiim. Sometimes you leave the screws in. The surgery for removal is variable but typically would be less than 1 hour. Thanks for watching and subscribing if you did
Would you know if metal hardware in the ankle can cause discomfort in cold weather? Many thanks!
It can H but it may be that you have some post traumatic arthritis that is actually the cause of your pain. Thanks for watching and subscribing
Should a plate be removed within 6 months of putting it in an now I'm having to have it fused because foot an ankle is still fractured
I fractured my knee the i have I have one plate and screws all the way around the knee they're removing the the hardware can I walk without crutches after removal of the hardware I recently had rotary cuff repair on my left shoulder I am now parsley out of the brace the block has been removed from the brace the hardware was putting on June 11th of this year they're now setting it up to get their hardware removed they had to a plug into the bone to feel some of the damage
Good luck willard. Thanks for watching, subscribing and sharing with someone if you did.
@@TalkingWithDocs keep making those great videos thank you for your help ❤️
After having screws and plates in my ankle for 10 years, I’m finally feeling pain and discomfort, especially in the snow. Last year I had multiple knee operations on the opposite side, and favoring the ankle has made it more annoying. Should I consider having them removed?
Worth considering. Get an X-ray and an assessment as see if the hardware might be the cause Vs post traumatic arthritis. Best of luck
@@TalkingWithDocs thank you for the response!
Hi doctor caller bone surgery m lga hardware removed krvane chayeye ya nhi
I'm having problems with discs above my hardware from l4/s1. The disc at l3 looks prolapsed but my hardware is effecting mri so my surgeon has opted to remove my hardware which has been in for 28 years.
Did you remove your hardware?
Hi, thanks for the information. I have a pelvic fracture and it causes me to have an internal fixation, like the plates, and metal screws in my pelvis. It's been a year since I had the surgery, when is the best time to remove it? Thank you so much for responding.
or is it possible to remove it? my dad says that it is just temporary and it will just stay for 2 years.
Hi Rachelle. If possible leave it in. If painful usually after one year. Thanks for watching and subscribing
I had my metal plate, bicycle chain, and screws placed in my jaw in 2011. For years I have dealt with major pain in my jaw, crooked jaw, and I believe damage to some of my teethe. The pain can often be unbearable and I think the left side at least is on a joint.
Has it been too long for a removal? Or can I still do it? If I can still get them removed, who would I consult?
Thank you for any help in advance I am grateful.
Hi James. It can be removed but can get harder with time. Best advice is to talk to your prior surgeon or another oral surgeon to review risks and benefits. Best of luck. Thanks for watching and subscribing
THANK YOU!
You're welcome DATFITNESS! Thanks for watching and subscribing if you did
Hi Dr's, I had a trimalleor(ORIF) fx & 2 torn ligaments a yr ago. I haven't really had alot of pain until 4months ago & progressively worse. I have pain from the arch of my foot to my toes, and this is what confuses me. I have trouble moving my toes bc of pain. I thought I broke my foot bc(xray was neg.) it is so painful, especially all night. My pain is from the medial side only. Do u think this could b from hardware.
Hi Ann. There are many causes of foot and arch pain. It may be related to your surgery however because it was a year ago, it may be a new problem. It is always best to start with an xray (which you did). If that fails to show any pathology, usually a trial of non operative treatment including NSAIDs, physio and possibly an orthotic would be a good starting point. If the pain persists, further investigations including an MRI may be warranted. Best to discuss with your healthcare professional. Thanks for the questions and thanks for watching.
I have a screw in my wrist and now its limited moving after surgery 8 months 16 days, but doctors dont want take it off, bone is healed and he says im doing wrong training he sendend me to medicine sport, but i feeling after fixed it needs get out this stupid screw and its causing pain and limited moves
Hi Phoenix. Sorry to hear that. Removing the screw will not necessarily improve the range. Usually wait at least one year. Good luck. Thanks for watching and subscribing if you did
I have an up coming infusion on the third toe the Dr is wanting to do I have an over size bump under my third toe which I've had for years .. from a previously broken my big toe which I had to had surgery and rods put in.. IF I go through this third toe fusion op will this remove the bump under my foot and what possible out come can I expect from the procedure
So hard to say without seeing you and your X-rays. Best to discuss with your treating surgeon. Best of luck. Thanks for watching and subscribing
Had a distant humerus fracture last weekend waiting for surgery to put in the hardware ! Wish me luck ! Feeling scared because of my first op any tips
Best of luck Ricky. Best advice is do what you are told and once allowed to exercise work really hard. All the best. Thanks for watching and subscribing
What about in the case of a spinal fusion? My doctor has confirmed that I'm fully fused and it is painful to me however the surgeon is hesitant.
Hi Chris. Hardware removal does not always remove the pain. It is difficult to predict. Best of luck. Thanks for watching and subscribing
@@TalkingWithDocs thank you. In my case I'm quite confident it's a major cause of my continued lower back pain.
Would love some feedback. I had a cervical fusion 3 years ago. My neurologist who I've seen twice in the past 6 months never ordered or looked at any of my xrays. I went on got xrays on my own and it showed that 2 screws are broken and I possibly have a fractured vertebrae. Do you think my neurologist should have ordered xrays or asked to see my xrays after 2 visits of complaining about the pain?
Thanks in advance...
Love the Karate Kid pic. In general, when assessing patients with new or persistent symptoms after surgery that included hardware, an xray is a reasonable place to start. The decision to order those tests would be determined by the findings on history and physical examination. Broken hardware can mean many things. If you are having ongoing symptoms related to surgery, it would not be unreasonable to review this with your treating surgeon or you could bring them for your neurologist to review. Hope that helps.
I had rib reconstruction in 2017. My left rib was noticeably larger than my right rib thus recieving surgery. The procedure I got included metal hardware. Fast fowarding to 2019, I feel pain but it is on occassions that I feel discomfort. A couple weeks ago I talked with my surgeon and decided to remove the metal implants next week. Should I proceed with the surgery? I want to make the best decision. I also feel "click" sounds when I breathe. My doctor checked my x Ray's and said that the metal is loose
Hi Michael. It is always best to discuss this with your surgeon. If the metal is loose, it is best to take it out. Good luck and thanks for watching.
Is rib hardware removal dangerous?
Hi Michael. So any hardware removal has some risk. The risk depends on the location and the local blood vessels, nerves or other important structures. If the hardware is symptomatic or broken, it is reasonable to remove it. Risks certainly should be discussed with your surgeon before removal. Good luck and keep us posted.
Just got surgery. The metal plates were removed from my ribs. I have a question though. Why is the side where I didn't get surgery more noticeable? As in my side profile... I can my ribs more. I also notice a bone from the xiphoid process a little more. I was wondering if that is normal.
I've just had all my hardware removed and feel so much better already. The wound from the op hurts of course but my mobility is so far much improved and it's only been a week since getting it all out. Very glad I listened to my gut and pushed for the removal, the surgeons were hesitant but I believed it was worth a go and now I'm very relieved I did. The pain from the hardware that was in my ankle was getting no better even after a years time in recovery.
You know your own body, listen to it and your gut and if you know something is wrong don't take "I don't know"/"I'm not sure" as an answer from your doctors. Things can only get worse in time if you leave them untreated. Peace and love to anyone reading this, I wish you wellness and safety :).
Thank you for sharing your experience LTA. Thanks for watching, subscribing and sharing with someone if you did.
where you operated mam !?and how it is going now mam
Is the removal fully covered by the insurance?
Did your recovery improved after removing the screw? How are you now? Thanks
Thanks for sharing your own personal experience, I found it useful. I too am currently struggling with mobility issues and ongoing pain in my ankle which I think is because of these screws and plates, even after going to physical therapy 2 days a week for over 6 weeks now. I wholeheartedly agree (with you) about listening to your gut and doing what you think is best, especially listening to your own body. My surgeon too is reluctant to remove them, but I'm going to keep pushing for removal after waiting a year. Although I'm fully aware of the consequences I'm willing to take the chance.
I had an L1 burst fracture, with spinal fixation done over a year ago (from T11 to L3). It reduced my mobility, and the surgeon who did the fixation told me it was better to remove that hardware to put less strain (over many years) on the surrounding vertebrae. I just got the hardware removed and already I feel so much better!
Very nice. Glad you are ok. Thanks for watching and subscribing
Cuiv, The lazy Geek. I was wondering what kind of pain you were having before they took hardware out? I have T12-L1 fused 4 years ago and now it feels hardware is causing problems. Thanks for sharing your story!
@@Boudreaux911 For me it was mostly a constant kind of pain right under one of the fixation rods getting worse with exercise, along with very easily feeling fatigue and strain on the area around the hardware. Commuting on crowded Tokyo trains during the rush hour always had those symptoms come up, so it wasn't great for work. Lying down from time to time helped a lot though...
I have a t11-l3 fusion almost two years ago. I find the hardware to be pretty painful bu I've been extreamly nervous about another surgery and having it removed. Has anything gotten worse since having it taken out?
@@clintdarquea3719 It's much better since I got the hardware out. I basically feel like I'm back to normal, as I was prior to the accident! No pain or anything. I'm 38 though, so I'm still relatively young.
I had a bimalleolar ORIF in December and it healed just fine. Then 6 months later my roommate’s cat bit my ankle right on the scar which led to a MRSA infection of my ankle and emergency surgery for hardware removal the day before my college graduation! I made it to graduation in a wheelchair with a huge cast and hooked up to a drainage bag LOL but it could’ve been a lot worse. I’m glad we caught it before it became septic. Moral of the story: always get things checked out and don’t wait until the last minute. Now I’m just waiting for my incision site to heal and to finish my course of antibiotics 😊 hopefully all my ankle drama is finished
Hi Eva. Crazy cats! Glad to hear you are on the mend. Keep getting better and thanks for watching. And congratulations on your graduation!
Hey thanks for taking the time to educate us! I had an open fracture on my tib/fib and a spiral fracture on my femur and I have 2 IM rods. I am experiencing large amount of pain above the kneecap whenever I extend my leg, it feels like the IM rod is pressing into the joint, it's only been 6 weeks since the operation, but I feel like my PT exercises are causing me more and more pain, and causing the knee to become more swollen. I am only 21 years old, if I am adamant to get all the hardware out, can I get the screws and rods out at the same time? Do I get the femur rod out first?
Hi spencrob. So you've had a lot of surgery. There are a few things that can be causing the pain above your patella. It is always important to see your specialist for an examination and if you have severe pain a new xray to make sure everything is where it needs to be. As far as removing hardware, if the femoral rod was put in retrograde (from the knee), you may be able to have them out through the same inicison. If not, you could still consider having both out at the same time. Usually you would have to wait at least a year and would want to ensure complete bony union. Open tib/fib fractures have a tendency to take longer to heal. Just don't start smoking as it will delay bone and wound healing. Good luck!
Ahh that makes sense doc, I must have 3 screws at the top of my femur rather than the usual 2. I gather they would have used the incision above the knee for both the femur and tibia rod. I have taken your advice from another video and today I bought myself some vitamin D to ensure I am sufficiently nutriated. In regards to smoking I stopped cold turkey after my accident, I hope I get union, because I would be suicidal if they have to replace this nail due to non-union. This surgery is pretty cruel and if I had the option of an external fixation device I would have leapt at the opportunity. Thanks for your help docs!
Did they remove your screw eventually? How are you?
But isnt the leg stronger than before?. Removing it only takes 15 mins some surgeons say.
Mine with the metal work, fractured fib and tib 2 years repaired after surgery. Safe to do downhill skiing? Or teakwondo?
no not safe if you ski again and break it in the same place.The hardware will then cause serious problems and may result in ruptured arteries due to the sharp fractured hardware
If the idea of having metal stuff in your system bothers you get'it removed, it feels relief!
It is a very personal choice for sure. Thanks for watching and subscribing
I had ORIF for a broken ankle 14 months ago. A metal plate and 6 screws were installed. Two screws went through the ankle bone. The ankle screws rubbed against any shoe I tried and every step was painful. I had all hardware removed 6 weeks ago. It’s no longer painful. The ankle is a little stiff, but I am hopeful it loosens with exercise. Even if it doesn’t, the pain is gone, and the 13 minutes in the OR was totally worth it.
Thanks for sharing
Just a question when its cold why does the plate give a tingling sensation
@@michelleongoro5495 I assume it’s the metal reacting to the cold. Mine ached in the cold.
@@lindamartin6860 oh really does stop at some point or will it be there for a long time
@@michelleongoro5495 To my knowledge, as long as there is metal in there, it will react (ache) in the cold.
coolest , easiest , simplest , clearest video on the subject
ran outta words
thank you doctors!!!
Alex! You are too kind. Doing our best to keep the channel informative and somewhat entertaining. All the best. Thanks for watching and subscribing if you did
i had a humours fracture arm wrestling and when the plate was installed they had to move my ulnar nerve the plate sticks out a bit to the point its visible at the elbow will this cause any problems and should i still get it removed the plate knowing ill have my nerve moved again will this damage the nerve even more then it already is im 23
Is it necessary to remove my screw? I had dynamic hip screw on March 3 2018 my bone healed but im afraid about removal of this due to long recovery and if it is necessary when to remove.
Hi Peter. The vast majority of hardware can remain in place. The main indication for removal would be local pain or if the screw was doing damage to the joint. Good idea to discuss this with your surgeon but they usually stay in. Thanks for watching.
Did they removed your hip screw? What's the update?
Canadian Surgeons rule!! Thank you!!
Hi Shahriar. Thanks for the positive feedback. We are doing our best.
Hi i had surgery 2 weeks ago for a broken wrist. I now have a plate. Your explanations for leaving the plate in are informative. However, i understand that plates have only been used since around 2000. Therefore, i am concerned of the long term effects of keeping the plate in. So any stats on the long term effects will not be older than 18 years. I am trying to make an informed decision about whether to have the plate out. My gut feeling is to eventually remove this useful, but alien, object! Thank you for your help.
Dude I'm not trolling you at all. These guys are Canadian Universal Healthcare Asshats. I had two metal plates and twelve screws on my left forearm implanted 13 years ago. They bothered me the whole duration of the time. I just recently got them out about two months ago and the difference is mindblowing. If a doctor tells you no, go to another doctor. Spend the money do whatever you have to do just GET THOSE OUT
@@youngman7600 how you feeling now bro? im planing to remove my plate in my forearm after 2 years im only 5and a half months post op.
@@halamanmahiwaga2063 Amazing brother I can get back to doing all the things I love. Actually just got done boxing lol
@@youngman7600 sounds good! how long the hole in the bone will heal? and how long the operation? i only have 1 plate and 6 screw on my radius bone
@@halamanmahiwaga2063 Give it 6 months to be on the safe side. I had 2 plates on that bone and I'm back to normal. I'm so happy with the decision to get the plates out
Hey dr.
I had broke my right hand both bones where i had it operated and put plates and screws on it.
Its been around 10 years.
But there is always problems with my hand movements for example when I write or when I type on PC for a long time. Also when i lift in the gym my hand is a handicap as it hurts and i cant put pressure on it.
Should I take out the material?
Please help
Hi I broke my hips when I was 16 now I m 26 years old and my legs is so much hurt when it’s cold when I walk and get tired and making me hitch if I will remove plates am I gonna be alright ?
Yeah that happens with me too.
I had an ankle surgery with a plate and screws. Whenever I ride a bike or it becomes so cold outside it starts to hurt.
I don't know what to do!
Remove them it will be fixed my cousin had the same issue. After removing the plates it stopped hurting
@@wg_gamer8496 on 7th January this month I got them removed.
Now my cuts are healing.
I didn't took a step from 7th January.
Now I'm trying to walk.
But whenever I put whole weight it feels like my ankle is electrocuted.
It's a scary sensation@@
I broke my tib and fib in 1999 , I had a plate put in 2000. Off course it hurts occasionally in wet or cold weather. Used to it now. But I doubt these are genuine medical consultants. A dr will never advice a plate removal
@@bessallin459 Now I can walk properly.
It's more than a month my implants get removed.
Walk properly but hurt a little if I do lot's of work standing
Hi Docs, love your videos. I fractured my wrist 1 1/2 years ago and had a titanium plate and screws put in. Seven months later had hardware removed due to pain. Removal went well and dr found a neuroma, cauterized and buried it in screw hole and held with bone wax. Still had discomfort and pain but went for months of occupational therapy and felt well for 3 or 4 months. One day kept flexing wrist and now have had pain almost daily that doesn't resolve except while sleeping. Went for a second opinion was blown off. Dr took many x-rays and kept saying "not bad". Wrist healed straight. I requested another ultrasound trying to rule out nerve or tendon problem. Dr. said what he was able to see looked good. MRI after hardware removal showed some mild tendinosis. I am at wit's end about what to do. I keep telling myself I had felt well and can get back to that point. It really takes a toll on your mind when a dr says you might have this forever. It also hasn't been a year since removal. Any encouragement or suggestions would be much appreciated. Have you ever heard of success with acupuncture? Dr would not give cortisone shot. He said skin is too thin and discolored. Thank you in advance. I find it incredible that you take the time to answer all these questions.
Sorry to hear this Doreen. It can be complicated and often a specific cause of the pain cannot be identified. Acupuncture is worth a try. Cortisone same. Maybe topical medication. Physio. Best of luck to you. Thanks for watching and subscribing
Thank you so much for your response. I'm telling myself that if I was able to feel good for 4 months post hardware removal, I can get to that point again. Believing that is more than half the battle. Thanks again!
@@doreenviscardo9126How are you know brother?
I have a metal plate in my left humorous bone should i remove it i am 28 years can u please give me a suggestion🙂
Does the screws get loose?
Can i go to gym while having hardware in forarms?
(Im not removing my plates and screws.)
Hi Athuljith S. So they will probably not get loose. And yes you can go to the gym. Hope that helps. Good luck. Thanks for watching, subscribing and sharing if you did.
@@TalkingWithDocs I’m 15 I fell 40ft and I’ve broken my spinal cord, pelvis bone and back bone they put in screws, plates and rods in my back and I healed up in 1 month but to be exact 3 weeks with no physical therapy thanks for the tips :)
@@kartiyaee5589 does the screws plates fell your back or you are good to do your normal activities
Is there a chance I can get a minimally invasive removal l4/5
Hi Dinelie. Thanks for the question. It depends on the hardware you have in place and would best be discussed with your treating surgeon. Thanks for watching.
Hi dr i am from nepal
Please please suggest me
I had surgery 15 years before because of my humarus fractured so i had 2 screws and two wires in it. I am planning to removed it so I would like to know i am doing right or wrong please share your experience and thoughts thanks
Hello doctors i m 36 and i would just like to share my story and ask a question if i may. I broke my elbow 2 years ago by falling very hard on it and so they put screws in it ( it felt very strange) and after around 3 months later maybe 2 inches from from the top of the elbow my humerus bone broke ( i guess it was shattered from the fall aswell) so i had to go for another immediate surgery but this time they took out the screws from the elbow and put a whole plate coming from the middle of the humerus bone attaching down to the elbow. Anyways, its been 2 years, i d say it recovered but my arm just doesn't feel the same no more, very stiff and i m scared to go to the gym or do push ups ( i use to bodybuild and do boxing so it annoyes very much because i know it will never be the same, lost my confidence). My question is, do you think i should take it out or leave it there forever? My surgeon said it should be there for ever, but i m thinking maybe if i take it out it wont feel as stiff anymore but then again i m thinking if i take it out the arm may break again due to do being weak, what do you think? Sorry for the long message, wanted to ask. Also, i can feel the plate on my elbow sticking out and when i do stretch my arm sometimes or most times its like a needle pain.
Hey! I've been struggling with this question (whether ir not to remove my hardware ) because i had a scoliosis correction surgery 8 years ago, when i was 14. Since the last year my scar has been infecting on and off, to the point that, when it heals, it forms a depression on the skin. I wonder that, if i do proceed with the removal, how are holes the vertebrae supposed to heal ? Is there any bone density loss after the removal? Will i be able to continue weightlifting sports?
Would love if someone could advise me and answer my doubts.
Thank you!
Talking With Docs please respond to this question.
Anything about Removal they don't want to talk to you about. How else do they make money if you're well and never depend on medications! I took mine out regardless and I feel great! You're the person in pain. Doctors won't know how it feel unless they are the patients period.
Do what makes you feel good now...tomorrow may never come!
@@Dounjikootsvet your comment is so on point, I broke my ankle in 3 parts and I've got a lot of metal work that I want removing. It's so painful and as I'm quite slim it's very prominent and it's such a struggle to sleep or even go about my day. The problem is the Dr is only wanting to remove part of it and not all at once. I'm pushing for it all to be removed at once or if he doesn't agree to get refered to the hosiptal I got treated (which is not local to me as it happened in a diff city). It's so hard to persuade them But I'm going to keep fighting and not give up. At the end of the day like you said how will the Dr know the full effects, it's we as individuals who have to go through the agony and stress 😣.
@@Dounjikootsvet where is your hardware remove
May I will feel pain when my plates were removed from my arm
Hi Ahsan. It will be painful for a couple of weeks typically. Thanks for watching and subscribing if you did.
A lot of pain or little pain that I can handle
I had hardware removed from my elbow. It was a success and is more comfortable now.
Got out of surgery yesterday only had 2 screws put in my ankle. Anxious and scared was a understatement. Got nothing but massive appreciation to these doctors and nurses (first time ive had to have any op done)
Hi oioi. Hope you are doing ok now. Speedy recovery. Thanks for watching and subscribing if you did
Hi oioi-SHANK. After how long from 1st surgery are your screws supposed to be taken out?
Oi! Oi! Skank
Have you had issues w hardware because I wanna pay extra for gold.
Lmk.
Oi! Oi! SKUNKS 🧷
Hello Doctor, is titanium harmless over a long period of time? Are there people who have minerals in their bodies for more than 40 or 50 years?
Yes it is
Hello sir I'm very nervous, I have plate in my skull because of blood clot and now when I touch my head I can feel the screw is it OK sir?
Because I don't want do that all over again... Please reply doc
Hi Srishti. So prominent hardware is common. If it hurts, you can see your surgeon to discuss removal. Hope that answers your question. Sorry for the delayed response. Thanks for watching and subscribing if you did.
Thank you so much for this very informative video. Had fibula plate put in on Oct. 31st. It drove my mad crazy hopping around with my walker on one foot for six weeks. I'm at 50% weight-bearing and in therapy, I am so anxious about recovering during the winter months in MI. I'll be doing the best I can, just hope we don't get a lot of snow and ice. Thanks again.
Hi Silver Fox. You are very welcome. So sorry to hear that you broke your ankle and had to have surgery. Time to look forward to your recovery. Yes the snow can be tricky - we know it up here in Ontario. Best advice is to go slowly. Good luck and thanks for watching.
Hi 😊.. i also just had plates fixed on my fibular..was hoping if you'd be able to give an update on how you are doing now. Just so i can know what to expect. Thanks
Hi Talking Docs, I had genioplasty about two years ago and my chin has not been the same since because it still feels swollen/stiff. I think I might be allergic to the metal, if that’s the case Is it possible to have the four 2mm screws\plates removed? Please let me know
Hi Sarah. Yes it is possible. There are risks associated. And sometimes the swelling is from the surgery not the presence of the metal or an allergy which is actually quite rare. Best to talk to your surgeon about your goals. Good luck. Thanks for watching, subscribing and sharing with someone if you did.
Thanks chaps and I found your advice very useful and pragmatic. I have an old tibia metal plate and 5-odd screws which have been in for over 40 years and have not intention of having them removed if I can help it - though a TKR may not be easy. Whilst I am sure the older 'Doc' won't like me saying so, the combination of you two Doctors as the younger, enthusiastic and questioning Doc and the older, dry humoured, sage Doc works well (!).
Thanks so much Johnny. Truth be told we are pretty close in age and trained together. Good luck to you and stay safe. Thanks for watching and for subscribing if you did.
@@TalkingWithDocs really? I think you need to clarify what close in age means? You look say maybe 35yrs and he looks about 54yrs.
What year did you have the operation?
Thanks for this video! i recently got a plate in my foot and was confused about a lot of things that might come in the next 1-2yrs. This clarifies a lot of doubts and such a to-the-point video... THANKS!!!!!!!!!
At 59, I broke my ankle in 2015. its been a year and I am trying to make a decision on removal. My GP said exactly what you did, why go through surgery if its not bothering me. Thank you for confirming.
Glad we could help!
Talking With Docs I had acl hamstring surgery three and half years ago and I feel pain in tibia and couldn't walk more than 1mile .could you tell me what causes would be possible. no swelling just pain and little bit stiffness
Talking With Docs ...Hi I had hardware put in at l4/s1. My surgeon has opted to remove it as my disc at l3 has a problem but mri's are a problem because my hardware is effecting the pictures. My hardware has been in for 28 years.
Hi, I had my surgery at 16 I was tall and the doctor told me my forearm was like a fully grown adults I have since grown and am 21 my arm is slightly shorter there has been no serious problems but I want to get into kickboxing it hurts when it gets hit but nothing major should I remove it ?
Hi owen. If there is significant pain and you are going to enter into a sport where that part of your body is going to be kicked regularly, it may be worth at least discussing it with a surgeon. Have some xrays to get an updated view and go from there. Removing and retention are probably both reasonable options. Hope that helps. Best of luck and thanks for watching
I hope I get my 2 screws removed from my left hand …. The pain is soooooo bad im so tired of these sleepless nights. Very frustrating 😔
In the hand can be sore for sure
@@TalkingWithDocsdefinitely!
I’ve got 4 plates in my jaw, 2 on my mandible and 2 bigger ones in the front. Can’t keep a sleeping schedule, get insomnia quite regularly and it aches badly especially with weather changes. Been thinking about having them removed but not sure
Best to discuss the risks and benefits of removal with your surgeon Jeremiah. Best of luck. Thanks for watching, subscribing and sharing with someone if you did.
I had a ankle fracture 20 years ago, at the age of 12. 4 rods were placed inside which were tied with wires. Now I want to get the rods and wires removed. Docs saying it's a very risky surgery, as bone scraping might be needed to remove and maybe some part cannot be removed. I have little pain nowadays. Should I go for the surgery?
With minimal pain we would tend to say no
@@TalkingWithDocs Fine. Appreciate your response. Any exercise or medicine would be helpful!?
Plate and screws in my fibula by the ankle for 35 years, no problem with it. Glad to see this video I can directly relate too.
Leave it in there!
Like a few other comments here, I had plates and a few screws removed from my ankle one year after the original fracture. As an active 26 year old I couldn’t imagine living the rest of my life with foreign objects in my body. The risks with surgery were negligible in my mind. Only 3 weeks later and my mobility feels so much better. But everybody’s case is different
Is it possible that screws can cause scar tissue? I have 4 screws after a periacetabular Osteotomy on my hip and have dealt with a huge wod of scar tissue in my groin right in that area where the screws are. Had the scar tissue removed because of issues and it was back within a wk.
Hi Casey. That is possible. It is also possible that the pain you are experiencing is related to the arthritis and simply because you had a procedure. It is a multifactorial problem. Good luck. Thanks for watching and subscribing if you did.
LOL.. for rest of you.. To date I have a plate in my neck, my knee, my right arm, a rod full lenght of femur and one into my hip. I have had none removed. For the beating I have taken joints work damn good. So no worries about leaving them in.. side note.. there are good orthos and bad ones.. Shop around and dont be shy! Ask questions. Sometimes its just a doctor you dont get along with personality wise. But it means Tons when you love and trust your doctor. Ask Questions, and shop! if possible.
Hi bmnco. Thanks for sharing. We totally agree. Leave it in if you can. And try and find a doctor you like and trust - not every pair is meant to be. Thanks for watching.
wow what a strong words.. whats your age sir?? and how long already the metal plates in your body.? seems you find a great ortho.!
Hello I am 15 year old I broke both bones in my arm about 7 months ago and I got six screws in the radius if I’m not mistaken. Do you think I should get the screws removed because I might still grow or what do you think I should do. Thanks
Hi Ben. We typically recommend hardware to stay in place. Some of that decision would depend on your growth status though. Best to discuss with your treating who can assess how much growth you have left. Best of luck to you. Thanks for watching and subscribing if you did.
I'm Fennie from Philippines and I'm currently suffering a tibial plateau fracture and I'm still waiting to be operated. It's been more than 2 weeks since the accident happened and when the time I rushed to the hospital they get my x-ray two times because the one who assisted me said he didn't see any fracture on my x-ray the thing that keep it hurting is because your muscle is swelling, just wait for the final result of your x-ray 5-7 days for now I can't see fracture. So he just give me medicine for swelling and pain reliever and released me and said I can go home. On the 7th day of waiting the final result of my x-ray, the ortho Doctor said that I have a tibial plateau. We're so devastated to hear that because we thought there's no problem and we found out that the doctor who declared I have no fracture was not a doctor, he's a nurse. And now I'm still waiting to be admitted because the hospitals here won't cater me because it's been more than two weeks and I'm out patient it's not emergency they said and they don't give me referral slip when infact it's not our fault why I'm stuck here with a broken bone for more than two weeks now😭😭😭😭 I'm worried about what will happen to me since it's been more than 2 weeks I got my broken knee. I'm concerned about the risk.
Hi Fennie. So often fractures will be fixed with some delay. Usually this is not a problem. Every fracture is different. It is frustrating for patients to wait though. We wish you the best of luck. Stay safe. Thanks for watching and subscribing if you did.
Thank you so much it helps me feel relieve.
Question: I broke my femur the beginning of 2015 I had a rod inserted & screwed into place. Since I was able to walk I was experiencing pain in the hip where they went in at and still to this day if I’m sitting a little funny or running it becomes irritated. Im thinking that removing it will make me feel a lot better I’m just not trying to go through surgery again. How long would I be on crutches again and will the surgery be as painful as the first?
Hi Jb. Removing it may not help. Have a long chat with your surgeon about expectations. Thanks for watching and subscribing if you did
I had my second knee surgery last July and had hardware replaced and a plate and 11 screws put in. The screw near the bottom on my knee cap never bothered me as much after my first surgery as it does now. It’s a lot more sensitive, and I can feel the screw head under my skin. My plate also has been causing me lots of issues, and I’m trying to figure out if I should get everything removed or not. My surgeon isn’t very…people oriented it seems, so he never really goes into detail about anything and kind of brushes off the questions I ask about it.
Hi Marilyn. Maybe a second opinion? Best of luck. Thanks for watching and subscribing
Is it safe to participate in psyhical contact sports such as boxing or mma for example with hardware(plates and screws
Hi Alexander. Yes it can be but it would depend where the plate is. The plate will not break but it may be sore. Good luck. Thanks for watching and for subscribing if you did.
Great video & channel Docs. I am 25 years old & fractured my elbow (olecranon) last October. So 6.5 months ago. I had a plate & screws put in that curves the corner of my elbow and is a “J “ shape. The surgery went quite well but I still seem to have quite some pain on the right side of olecranon (left arm) I feel that maybe getting the plate out could reduce this pain?? I play competitive golf and am trying to get back into weightlifting, but this always gives me some sort of pain when I do both. The hospital was Aurora St. Luke’s in WI. ANY insight would be greatly appreciated! & fantastic channel 👍
Thanks JAKE. So sometimes removing the plate can improve function. You just want to make sure that your pain is actually caused by the plate itself rather than being a consequence of the trauma and fracture of your elbow. Hope that helps. Best of luck. Thanks for watching, subscribing and sharing if you did.
Update: Great news! About seven months ago, I decided to have surgery to remove the screws and plate from my ankle to improve mobility and eliminate weather sensitivity. I'm so glad I did because now I no longer feel like I'm carrying this extra weight, and I can walk just as I did before, including fast when heading for a bus! One reason (but not the only one!) I decided to go through with this was reading the real-life comments on this site from people who had it done. I also knew two people who had the surgery and three who didn’t, mainly because their doctors didn't offer it as an option. By the way, I had an excellent surgeon (Northwestern) whom I trusted completely. Best of all he respected my wishes and didn't try to talk me out of it.
That is awesome. Congrats!
Thank you, doctor. I broke two bones in my forearm and have had hardware in place for over a year. I work out regularly, but sometimes I experience slight discomfort. Should I consider having the hardware removed ?
I just had the plate insurted surgically and this has been the most horrible pain and recovery. I cannot imagine undergoing surgery AGAIN and have my wrist cut open and have the plates removed. What HELL this has been!!
I have 2 screws in left ankle on right side. The heads of the screws are not there. My doctor thinks I should leave them because he feels that could be break when removing. However the one definitely hurts. What are your thoughts?