Plate in? Plate out?
Discussion
I've been snowboarding 15 years, 2 years ago I had my first break...managed to shatter my left collarbone into 4 or 5 pieces, and surgery was mandatory as it was basically a jigsaw puzzle in there, and a couple of pieces were on their way through my skin.
Surgery was successful, titanium plate around 4 inches long, and about 6 screws holding it in position. I have quite a bit of nerve damage, but everything knitted well so I was back snowboarding about 4 months after surgery.
Fast forward 2 years, and I'm starting to consider whether i want the plate removing, for a couple of reasons.
-I have no chronic pain, but If i so much as lightly knock a specific place on my collarbone where it meets the plate, it is agonisingly painful.
-Seatbelts, very uncomfortable as a passenger, or driving LHD in the states. Rucksacks are also a painful affair.
-Future breaks, i'm worried about breaking it in future with the plate in there, the breaks will occur at the end of the plates, which makes for a much more complex break and repair.
I know the NHS will bend over backwards to avoid taking metalwork out if they can, but i'm keen to hear experiences of anyone who has had metalwork removed, especially collarbone, was it successful? any regrets?
I'm having shoulder surgery on my right shoulder in a few weeks (capsular shift after 8 dislocations), which took a year to get, so if i do want this metalwork out i figure i should probably start the ball rolling soon.
Surgery was successful, titanium plate around 4 inches long, and about 6 screws holding it in position. I have quite a bit of nerve damage, but everything knitted well so I was back snowboarding about 4 months after surgery.
Fast forward 2 years, and I'm starting to consider whether i want the plate removing, for a couple of reasons.
-I have no chronic pain, but If i so much as lightly knock a specific place on my collarbone where it meets the plate, it is agonisingly painful.
-Seatbelts, very uncomfortable as a passenger, or driving LHD in the states. Rucksacks are also a painful affair.
-Future breaks, i'm worried about breaking it in future with the plate in there, the breaks will occur at the end of the plates, which makes for a much more complex break and repair.
I know the NHS will bend over backwards to avoid taking metalwork out if they can, but i'm keen to hear experiences of anyone who has had metalwork removed, especially collarbone, was it successful? any regrets?
I'm having shoulder surgery on my right shoulder in a few weeks (capsular shift after 8 dislocations), which took a year to get, so if i do want this metalwork out i figure i should probably start the ball rolling soon.
designforlife said:
I know the NHS will bend over backwards to avoid taking metalwork out if they can, .
This is wrong.We take plates out if they cause symptoms and if the benefits outweigh the risks. In this case money has nothing to do with it. There is some active and new rationing, but usually on Procedures of Limited Clinical Value (POLCV) like varicose vein surgery etc. But this isn't a POLCV.
You need to chat it over with a surgeon.
Most metalwork stays in, but each case is different.
The_Doc said:
This is wrong.
We take plates out if they cause symptoms and if the benefits outweigh the risks. In this case money has nothing to do with it. There is some active and new rationing, but usually on Procedures of Limited Clinical Value (POLCV) like varicose vein surgery etc. But this isn't a POLCV.
You need to chat it over with a surgeon.
Most metalwork stays in, but each case is different.
if that is the case, brilliant...i'm speaking through anecdotal experience of a number of snowboarding/mountain biking friends and acquaintances over the years that have had to fight tooth and nail to get plates removed.We take plates out if they cause symptoms and if the benefits outweigh the risks. In this case money has nothing to do with it. There is some active and new rationing, but usually on Procedures of Limited Clinical Value (POLCV) like varicose vein surgery etc. But this isn't a POLCV.
You need to chat it over with a surgeon.
Most metalwork stays in, but each case is different.
I had to fight pretty hard to get capsular shift surgery on my other shoulder (it's taken 13 months from GP appt to surgery date) and i had to be very vocal about my reasons for wanting it done, despite suffering chronic dislocation. For every one surgeon recommending me for surgery, another was trying to discharge me.
It may just be the area of the UK i'm in, who knows. I can't actually speak to a surgeon until I start a referral process through my GP, so i guess i should just get the ball rolling and see where it leads.
I truly wish I could afford to go private!!
Edited by designforlife on Wednesday 11th July 17:26
I’m on my second plate in my collarbone.
I broke the bone alongside the existing plate 7 years ago. The op to fix it was slightly tricky according to the surgeon but all good now. Old one whipped out and new one bolted in
Never had any issues with either plate. Speak with a specialist surgeon and get their views
I broke the bone alongside the existing plate 7 years ago. The op to fix it was slightly tricky according to the surgeon but all good now. Old one whipped out and new one bolted in
Never had any issues with either plate. Speak with a specialist surgeon and get their views
When I broke my ankle the metalwork was only inside for about six months yet the Küntscher nail in my femur has been there for 29 years this September.
The two pins in my ankle worked loose fairly quickly but the surgeon was planning on taking them out anyway. I'd imagine the fact that the metalwork was outside the bone and in a fairly exposed place had a lot to do with it?
Quick question for the Doctors... What's the longest you've known a bit of surgical metalwork stay inside someone? Not a hip joint but a nail, screw or plate?
The two pins in my ankle worked loose fairly quickly but the surgeon was planning on taking them out anyway. I'd imagine the fact that the metalwork was outside the bone and in a fairly exposed place had a lot to do with it?
Quick question for the Doctors... What's the longest you've known a bit of surgical metalwork stay inside someone? Not a hip joint but a nail, screw or plate?
I'd be curious to know how you get on and whether there's an improvement in comfort.
I've a big old plate with 6 screws in my arm which I'm not generally aware of until I have to push hard with the arm like when drilling etc. The power isn't there for starters, but the worst part is when I release the pressure and there's terrific pain down the arm. I work with tools so not good!
I've a big old plate with 6 screws in my arm which I'm not generally aware of until I have to push hard with the arm like when drilling etc. The power isn't there for starters, but the worst part is when I release the pressure and there's terrific pain down the arm. I work with tools so not good!
Tango13 said:
Quick question for the Doctors... What's the longest you've known a bit of surgical metalwork stay inside someone? Not a hip joint but a nail, screw or plate?
30, 40 years.Modern fixing of fractures stems from the 1950s, but was quite rare and people just died (of old age) with them in. Sometimes stuff came out, but again the numbers are very small.
https://www.aofoundation.org/structure/the-ao-foun...
Our entire ethos is based upon Arbeitsgemeinschaft für Osteosynthesefragen
Now, it's very common to put steel or titanium alloy in humans, and we all live into our 90s. But also the newer implants are very low profile and are designed to stay in.
No rust/corrosion, the body walls-it-off and that's that.
The_Doc said:
Tango13 said:
Quick question for the Doctors... What's the longest you've known a bit of surgical metalwork stay inside someone? Not a hip joint but a nail, screw or plate?
30, 40 years.Modern fixing of fractures stems from the 1950s, but was quite rare and people just died (of old age) with them in. Sometimes stuff came out, but again the numbers are very small.
https://www.aofoundation.org/structure/the-ao-foun...
Our entire ethos is based upon Arbeitsgemeinschaft für Osteosynthesefragen
Now, it's very common to put steel or titanium alloy in humans, and we all live into our 90s. But also the newer implants are very low profile and are designed to stay in.
No rust/corrosion, the body walls-it-off and that's that.
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