So my uncle just had some surgery for his shattered thigh bone. He had a metal rod(?) inserted into his leg. He is wondering if the doctors are going to leave it in there or are they going to take it out later. Do any of you know the answer to this?
2007-03-17 07:06:20 · 4 answers · asked by bluefire_91 2 in Health ➔ General Health Care ➔ Injuries
It sounds like he had an ORIF (open reduction internal fixation), simply put the surgeon placed a metal rod (usually titanium, probably screws, and maybe a plate depending on the severity of the injury). It is a very common surgery after a break of the upper leg. The bone grows around the rod and allows the fracture to heal so in other words the rod won't be coming out. In some instances if a person had screws placed with this they will take those out if it poses a problem (irritation, pain) but they leave the rod. This is usually rare because it requires surgery and people usually don't have any problems in this area. He now has a much stronger, stable thigh and hip and just needs make sure he works on his range of motion of that area and he will be back to new.
2007-03-19 19:37:25 · answer #1 · answered by hematocrit 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If he shattered it, there's no way they're taking it out. The femur is the hardest and toughest bone in the body, and if he did this to it, he needs something to restore that support, hence the metal rod.
2007-03-17 07:26:34 · answer #2 · answered by surrealsuspension 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It will always be in there. Congrats he'll be setting off metal detectors for the rest of his life! j/k it'll be fine in there - won't even know its there after a while
2007-03-19 19:25:01 · answer #3 · answered by Cascade 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
They will leave it in for extra support
2007-03-17 07:12:16 · answer #4 · answered by nursej 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋