Do metal plates and screws need to be removed?

Occasionally a screw is positioned across a joint to help hold that joint in place whilst it heals and it should be removed before moving the joint again to prevent breakage of the metalwork. Infected metalwork should always be removed preferably after the fracture has healed.

Do plates and screws stay in forever?

They do help to hold things in place while the body heals, and they are typically meant to stay in the body forever. There are cases, though, when removing metal plates and screws, or other implants, may be necessary.

Can plates and screws cause pain?

Most people do not have problems with the plate and screws. In rare cases, the plate and screws can cause some pain or irritation. When this happens, the hardware may be removed after the fracture is healed, about a year from the original surgery.

Can metal plates cause pain?

Painful Hardware is a possible side effect from metal screws and plates, which are often used in surgery to fix fractures, fuse joints, or stabilize bones.

Should I remove screws from my ankle?

These results suggest that routine hardware removal after ankle or distal tibia fracture could ameliorate hardware-related pain and improves daily activities and patient satisfaction even when the hardware-related pain is minimal.

How long after ankle surgery can hardware be removed?

Hardware removal was routinely recommended only after a noneventful course and radiographically confirmed bony union, usually about 1 year after surgery, even when hardware-related pain or ill-defined ankle discomfort was minimal.

How long do screws stay in ankle?

Normal activities, including driving, can be resumed in about three to four months, but more rigorous activity like sports will need to wait even up to a year or more if the fix is to be long-lasting. The screws and plates will remain in the ankle unless they start causing any issues such as irritation or pain.

Can a broken ankle cause problems later in life?

Long term effects of ankle fractures have been reported to include physical, psychological, and social consequences [9]. It has been reported that physical impairments following ankle fractures may include pain, functional impairment and the development of post-trauma arthritis [16].

Do you have to be immobilized with a broken ankle?

The whole body will not be immobilized, just the fractured ankle. Crutches are used to assist in weight bearing as the ankle will not be used for weeks or months depending on the fracture. For the severe cases of broken ankle, surgery is required.

Is the girl with the broken ankle really broken?

Technically it’s not broken anymore and hasn’t been for some time. But every pain, every limitation, even the lack of pain when I’m used to feeling pain, is a reminder that I’m the girl with the broken ankle. I’m not going to be that girl anymore.

Why is my ankle still swelling up years after an accident?

If your ankle is still swelling up months or years after injury, then it’s very likely you’re not getting enough rest. Question #4: Are you moving enough? During recovery, it’s easy to fall back to your normal routine before the accident.

What happened to the hardware left on a broken ankle?

Here is one story in which that happened: A friend broke his ankle and left the hardware there. Ten years after the injury, he decided to get it removed because it was causing him problems.