2006-07-24 12:57:05 · 5 answers · asked by jacelie 1 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Medicine
I am an MD. Usually they are left in the patient for life, unless a crying need arrises that necessitates their removal, such as infection, or new surgery, or they break, or something like that.
2006-07-24 13:01:30 · answer #1 · answered by Sciencenut 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Depends on the injury, the way it heals, the expected future stress, and other factors your doctor could more accurately explain - sometimes they're taken out right away, sometimes later, sometimes never.
My mother-in-law broke her leg near the ankle and the surgeon anchored it with screws. He decided to leave the screws in permanently because even though it healed well, it's in a place that gets a lot of stress from walking and such. After a few months, she reported discomfort & the doc found that the screws were working themselves loose. Since she & I get along well, it was fun for us to joke about her having not one, but TWO loose screws. LOL Well, the doctor went ahead & removed them & since then, no problems, and it's been about four years.
2006-07-24 20:03:53 · answer #2 · answered by visualizewhirledpeas72 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It depends on the situation. They did on my arm, but my dad's leg will always have the screws there
2006-07-24 20:01:24 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
they can but usually that surgery is worse than the original so mostly they leave them in place
2006-08-01 15:17:25 · answer #4 · answered by sanemarie 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Mine didn't but they'd be a heck of a conversation piece wouldn't they?
2006-07-24 20:08:36 · answer #5 · answered by DelK 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋