I broke my ankle a couple years ago and had a plate put in (fibula bone). Do the plates ever cause problems?

Question

Should I think about getting it removed in the future?

Answer 1

Just exactly where in the fibula did they put the plate? If it's in your ankle, you must have the metal removed if the bone is healed since you put weight on the ankle. If it's higher up, which I doubt since the fibula is rarely fixed in this area, you don't need to remove since your fibula contributes little to weight bearing in this area.

Answer 2

It depends on the material used and the injury. I have screws and a plate around my knee, surgery was done 3 years ago. I was told I could have the hard ware out or not. Mine was just to heal the bone at the time but it has not bothered me in any way. I have heard that if hardware is taken out it could make the bone weaker, at least the hole that the screws come out of and it can take the body a long time to heal bone back into the drilled holes. My step dad was in a awful accident year ago and he has so much hard wear in his leg that now almost 30 years after he would probably not be able to walk with out the hardwear now. If the metal is put in to help heal most of the time it can come out with no problem but I would think if it does come out it needs to in a certain amount of time due to scar tissue and calcium deposits around the hardwear. Plus the type of titaimum they use now is pretty much invisible to the body and is usually not a problem to the surrounding tissue and body fat and muscle. If you are worryed about the hardwear talk to your doctor and let them know how you feel and what your concerns are. My biggest question for me is " Would I be so much better off going through surgery again for something that is not bothering me" Or " Will anything inprove having it removed"???

Answer 3

I broke my fibula bone last year & it still isn't healed it's quite swollen but the doctor blames my ankle being swollen on my kids what a joke I say he's a quake.Not sure though get a second opinion.Good Luck

Answer 4

In one move. - All the feet & joints on my left foot. Crushed core & ring finger L hand + one million bone in hand + fused two knuckles. Snapped correct humerus + more than one fractures like a work of marble. Snapped L femur simply above the knee & the important aspect got here by way of the flesh & scraped at the street. Had gangrene in palms & leg. Had two small epidermis grafts. A bone graft. Permanent steel plate in thigh. Lost 3cm off left leg. Plus every other crap. @ The Punisher - Bet you'll be able to inform a few health center reviews. ;)