Should metal plate be removed from ankle?
I learned that plates and screws used to fix an ankle fracture are not removed if they don’t cause problems and most people do not have problems. Ankle hardware can remain in place permanently. According Kaiser Permanente statistics, 80% of patients never have the standard hardware removed.
Should I have the plate and screws removed 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 is recovery after plate removal?
You will get back to most of your activities by 6 weeks. Swelling often remains for 6 months. You are expected to experience a FULL recovery (no pain, no swelling, ability to walk, etc.) in 6 months.
Can you walk after ankle screw removal?
If you have had hardware removed from a lower extremity like an ankle or knee, then you will most likely need a walker or crutches after your surgery. Your physical therapist can help progress from walking with two crutches to one crutch and finally to a cane.
Can you run with plates and screws in ankle?
In general, you can attempt to start running about three to four months after your injury. By this time, the bones in your ankle should be well healed and your ROM and strength should be close to normal. You can progress your running mileage as long as your pain is minimal and your ROM and strength remain excellent.
Does hardware removal surgery hurt?
Your Recovery You’ve had surgery to remove orthopedic hardware such as metal screws, pins, or plates. You can expect some pain and swelling around the cut (incision) the doctor made. This should get better within a few days. But it’s common to have some pain for up to several weeks.
Is ankle hardware removal painful?
The hardware-related pain, ankle joint stiffness, discomfort on ambulation, and patient satisfaction were evaluated before and at least 6 months after hardware removal. Pain score before hardware removal was 3.4 (range 0 to 6) and decreased to 1.3 (range 0 to 6) after removal.
Is it better to remove plates after surgery?
Patients who continue to suffer inconvenience and discomfort after a healed bone fracture may be better off having any plates, pins and screws removed.
How long does it take for bones to heal after hardware removal?
But radiographic findings in adults show it does not return to near normal until 18 weeks. The data on return of normal strength in humans after hardware removal is not known, but protecting long bones after hardware removal for two to three months is reasonable.