i ride a bike :D
Squid
Hay guys recently broke my collar bone and had a plate and 6 screw put in. i have the option to have them taken out, would it be a better idea to leave them in or take them out?
Broken Collar
- Thread starter i ride a bike :D
- Start date
redbruce
Eats Squid
What does your surgeon say? He may or may not be a bike rider but forum comments will almost certainly be from riders not surgeons and probably worth what you paid for it.
Last edited:
i ride a bike :D
Squid
he didn't really say anything about it but im going to see him three weeks so ill ask him then
xenocatalyst
Likes Bikes
Leave them
I had some reinforcing added to my ankle back in summer of 08/09.
Both bone broken, one bolt on the inside and a plate with 8 or 9 bolts on the outside.
When i asked about getting the plate removed i was told that it would stay in unless it started to have adverse effects.
ie: the bone pushing the bolts out or the bone growing around the plate/bolts and encroaching on the joint.
They tend to leave these things in because the bones grafts onto the metal and bonds with it quite well.
Removing them would mean cutting you open a second time and breaking these bonds, which causes just as much pain and result in another 6 weeks of recovery.
Basically you have to go through the same trauma all over again.
I'd leave them in.
Them only problem im having is sitting cross legged on tiles or concrete.
The down side of having the metal in your body is that if you get a serious infection, Golden staph and the like, it will be attracted to the metal. I dont know why.
Well thats my 2 cents.
I had some reinforcing added to my ankle back in summer of 08/09.
Both bone broken, one bolt on the inside and a plate with 8 or 9 bolts on the outside.
When i asked about getting the plate removed i was told that it would stay in unless it started to have adverse effects.
ie: the bone pushing the bolts out or the bone growing around the plate/bolts and encroaching on the joint.
They tend to leave these things in because the bones grafts onto the metal and bonds with it quite well.
Removing them would mean cutting you open a second time and breaking these bonds, which causes just as much pain and result in another 6 weeks of recovery.
Basically you have to go through the same trauma all over again.
I'd leave them in.
Them only problem im having is sitting cross legged on tiles or concrete.
The down side of having the metal in your body is that if you get a serious infection, Golden staph and the like, it will be attracted to the metal. I dont know why.
Well thats my 2 cents.
bjmtb
Likes Dirt
Surgeon know's best, that said I broke my collarbone back in 09. Options were to plate it, use a new method whereby they use a long screw (and remove it afterwards) or to let in heal naturally. I went for the screw option, aside form it being less invasive surgery the surgeon had worries that long term, with either a plate or a screw it would create weak points either side of the metal. Probably worth mentioning to your specialist as a potential reason to remove the plate. Yes it will mean a longer recovery period, however it's the end result that matters!! I guess thats still no concrete testing on whether leaving a plate in is best, or removing it. No doubt in a sport such as this it really comes back to what difference ity will make once the same kind of impact occurs. I'd imagine breaking it again (with a plate in) could be a hell of a mess to fix. Good luck either way
pharmaboy
Eats Squid
the pin through version seems to be not used much anymore - easy to remove but not as reliable as the plate method. the plate is designed for leave in, though is removed if it bothers the patient (feel, discomfort and psychological) . Any surgery holds a risk, so your overall surgery risk is doubled by having to have it removed which is why some surgeons prefer the plate method.
your risk of re fracture is about 1 in 100 - assuming you have the brains not to break it while it is still healing.
I had a plate put in a few days ago, the surgeon who is a director of trauma, and who was recomended me by 2 independant knowledgeable friends as best option didnt give any other option apart from plate for my particular fracture. Gotta be carfeul to take advice from the surgeons though, and dont second guess them - the whole idea of giving patients options and decisions is rediculous bullshit invented by lawyers who always know everything.
your risk of re fracture is about 1 in 100 - assuming you have the brains not to break it while it is still healing.
I had a plate put in a few days ago, the surgeon who is a director of trauma, and who was recomended me by 2 independant knowledgeable friends as best option didnt give any other option apart from plate for my particular fracture. Gotta be carfeul to take advice from the surgeons though, and dont second guess them - the whole idea of giving patients options and decisions is rediculous bullshit invented by lawyers who always know everything.
I think it depends on your age as well. I broke my arm when i was 15, and had a plate with 6 screws, but they removed the plate 12 months later. Doc said that because I was still young, the bone would grow over the plate, which is a bad thing. I guess the best option is to take the Surgens advice, after all, thats what they're paid for!