Surgical Hardware Removal

The two photos below are of my left leg (femur).







Photos below are of my left arm.




These are the screws and rod in my upper arm.



Broke my upper arm and femur when a young driver decided to ignore a stop sign. Surgery repaired both my humerous and femur approximately 18 months ago. I now would like to get the hardware removed. Any thoughts or experience regarding hardware removal? Please share your stories. I'm meeting with my surgeon in two weeks to discuss. I am thinking he will try to discourage removal, but I'd rather have them gone. I'm an active 47 year old and I can noticeably feel them and it's starting to bug me. Pros and Cons. Would you do it again?

Thanks in advance, Dennis.

I have screws and plates in my lower leg from a crash 4 years ago that hurt all the time. When I broke my collarbone 2 years ago the doctor that put the screws in said he would remove the screws from my leg. I was so happy. After a xray he said my knee is going to need replaced in a few years and they can take the metal out at then. WTF? So I am living with the pain for now. I say if you can find someone to take it out go for it.

I have a partial removal...I can't say that it hurts or aggravates less but the physical therapy after words was a PIA (again)! That is just me though, you may not need PT.

I have metal in my tibia and ankle from an injury, but I have no pain associated with the hardware.

Does your hardware hurt, or is it just noticeable? Keep in mind that any surgery carries risk (infection, anesthesia, blood loss, etc.), and there is the possibility of more PT after the removal. So weigh those against the potential outcome, talk to your surgeon, and make your decision.

I have a fresh (July 2016) plate and eight screws in my collar bone. It itches the hell out of me. It's weird. It doesn't hurt or feel pressure until I put my armor over it but it like itches on the inside quite often. Anyway, doc said I could get it out next summer but that would be a whole new surgery, and heal up time. Sigh.

I'm going to try to live with it and see how it goes.

I have a plate and 8 screws in my clavicle too. The itching will get better over a year or so. My repair was about 18 months ago and it still itches from time to time, especially when pads or straps from a backpack sit on it. But it's gotten much better with time.

Ok cool. It's weird though. I guess it's the tissue around it adjusting to its prescene or something.

Damn dude, thats a lot of hardware. I have managed to stay hardware free despite being run over a few times by other motorcycles; I have a couple anecdotal stories of two people I know whom have had their ankle hardware removed; one of them on top of a bar in front of 100's of people and the other broke a screw in her ankle while running trails w/me. I'd say get rid of that stuff to make room for more. LOL

Bonus points if you get it done on top of a bar hanging onto a stripper pole. I'll ride out to see that!

DEFINITELY get it removed. I know, it's a pain in the ass, but if you don't, the bone will grow calcified scar tissue all over and around that structure, robbing it from the rest of your body. You will not notice for about 20 years, but when the osteoporosis sets in, you'll wish you got it out. Saw this exact thing happen first person to my dad. Take it out.

No medical evidence to support the theory, but I was told that "itching" is a good sign of "healing". It's been my experience, too.

I had an intermediary rod in my left femur and six screws in my right ankle removed, and have been happy with the results. Prior to the removal, the screws holding the rod to the hip were catching on the hip flexor tendon causing pain and restricting range of motion. The heel screws were also catching on the Achilles tendon causing the same. The surgery to remove the rod is not minor; be prepared for some recovery time. The only downside that I have is a bit more loss of range of motion in the hip due to the invasive nature of the surgery.
If you decide to remove the hardware, sooner is better! Good luck, and recover soon!

I second having it removed if it bothers you (physically). I had 3 screws in my right foot and 3 in my left. 2 in my right foot were pretty aggravating for a long time. After stalling for only 6-7 years, I finally decided to have them removed. That place still bothers me, the remaining 4 gives me no issues, and it has now been 15 years.

Point is, get rid of the uncomfortable ones as soon as the doc will remove them!

I broke my clavicle in a high speed bicycle crash.



Got this high-tech titanium flex rod inserted down the middle of it...



Now that screw on the end makes me crazy sometimes. I sleep on my side...left side.

I'm on a high deductible medical plan, and it will cost about a grand to get that screw out. So I'm waiting for a year when I have other bad luck and use up my deductible.

What happens to the hardware after it's removed?
Do y'all get to keep it?

My youngest son had a titanium rod (actually a slotted tube) in his tibia from hitting a tree on my KDX200. Had it removed 18 months later- and yes we have it and the screws. I wanted it because it cost my insurance $25,000 to put it in and $15,000 to take it out. Very expensive souvenir and reminder....

You have to ask for it and they may balk because they have to sterilize it to release it but we got it done.

I had the hardware removed from my Femur (rod and 3 screws just like you) and haven't been happier. The femur rod was in for 5 years and I had constant swelling in my r. knee. My knee was taking the punishment when my femur refused to flex under normal stress. Get that crap pulled out ASAP. My sturgeon had to use a Vice Grips to get the screws out! The bone had grown around the screws and she stripped out the Allen heads LOL.
Cheers and Good Luck!!

I had about two-three weeks of lite duty at work and then I was back to normal.

if it isn't medically necessary don't put yourself through it. If you do have it removed be sure to keep the parts.

I have had a plate and 8 screws in my arm since 03, aches when the weather gets cold or stormy, but nothing more than that... had a 9th screw thar was protruding thru the bone at the elbow that was disrupting tendons that they did remove....

This just begs for more details!!! Please ?