Bone screws, Orthopedics FAQ

Walking After Fifth Metatarsal Fracture Surgery: What You Need to Know

Walking after surgery for a metatarsal fracture? I suffered a fracture of the fifth metatarsal in my right foot due to a car accident and underwent surgery to insert screws. It has been six weeks since the operation, and I have already had the splint removed. I am currently using...

Dr. Chen Bochen Reply:
Hello Kevin, Actually, I would need to see your recent X-ray to provide you with a more accurate answer. However, on average, you can start bearing weight on your fifth metatarsal fracture about six weeks after surgery. It is important to wear hard-soled shoes; boots, thick-sol...

Post-Surgery Concerns for Fifth Metatarsal Fracture Recovery

Postoperative issues following fifth metatarsal fracture? Hello, Doctor. Thank you for your careful response to my previous question. Based on the chart you provided, the location of my injury seems to correspond to a tuberosity avulsion fracture, which resembles the apophyseal f...

Dr. Chen Bochen Reply:
1. Heat therapy, soaking in warm water is better (slightly warmer than bath water, but avoid burns). 2. Pump exercises involve moving the ankle; the soles of the feet are less significant. 3. If swelling occurs frequently, wearing an ankle brace may help. 4. If there is no pai...

Recovery Timeline After Fibula Nail Removal: When Can You Walk Without Crutches?

A steel pin was fixed next to the fibula? I would like to ask, I have had my metal rod for a year, and I plan to have it removed this summer. After the removal, how long will it take before I can walk without crutches? How long will it take to fully recover?

Dr. You Dianqi Reply:
If you are already back to normal, I believe that removing the bone screws will not add any extra difficulty to your walking. Thank you.

Understanding Post-Surgery Complications: Titanium Rod Deformation in Pediatric Fractures

Postoperative heterotopic ossification after fracture surgery? I would like to inquire about an incident on February 16, where my child fell off a bicycle and suffered a fracture of the left tibia (specifically in the middle of the tibia). The surgery involved the use of titanium...

Dr. Shi Guozheng Reply:
1. The healing of the bone after tibial fracture surgery occurs at a certain rate. 2. Typically, it takes one to two months for callus formation to begin. 3. It is necessary to wait until the bone becomes very hard, which usually takes about three to six months. 4. If the i...

Understanding Post-Surgery Complications: Broken Screws in Spinal Fusion

Postoperative screw fracture after spinal spondylolisthesis surgery? Hello, doctor. I previously underwent surgery for spondylolisthesis, during which four steel screws were inserted for stabilization. Post-surgery, everything seemed normal until six months later when an X-ray re...

Dr. Cai Shanglin Reply:
1. No matter how strong the bone screws are, they will eventually break if the bone does not heal. 2. Whether it helps or not depends on the severity of your symptoms; if the symptoms are unbearable, a second surgery may be necessary. 3. The term "not touching nearby ner...

Understanding Post-Removal Discomfort After Patellar Fracture Surgery

Hello, doctor. I have some questions regarding the removal of screws and wires after a patellar fracture? Hello, doctor. I fractured my patella six months ago, and I went to the hospital the day before yesterday to have the screws and wires removed, followed by a manual mobilizat...

Dr. Li Yongheng Reply:
Hello: 1. We can take another X-ray to check for any remaining bone screws. 2. The sensation of a foreign body is likely not caused by the surgical procedure. 3. It may be too late to start rehabilitation after the wound has healed; we need to begin active rehabilitation now.

Post-Surgery Pain After Removal of Ankle Fracture Plate: What to Expect?

Pain after removal of the plate following a fracture of the left calcaneus? Hello Dr. You: In January of this year, I fell from a 3-meter ladder, resulting in a closed comminuted fracture of my left heel. I had a steel plate and artificial bone implanted. My recovery has been rel...

Dr. You Dianqi Reply:
Hello: Were you diagnosed with a fracture of the calcaneus? If so, this type of fracture is indeed considered to have a poorer prognosis. Additionally, during your treatment, did you experience any signs of infection? It is quite unusual for symptoms to worsen nine months after t...

Understanding the Decision Not to Remove Bone Pins After 3 Years

Self-funded bone screws for open fracture recovery after a car accident; follow-up visit three years later without hardware removal? Hello Dr. Lee, I would like to ask you a question. I am a 31-year-old male with a bone screw located about 2-3 cm above the tibia in my lower leg. ...

Dr. Li Yongheng Reply:
1. Generally, the materials for self-funded bone screws are mostly titanium alloy or stainless steel alloy. 2. If the surgeon recommends not to remove them, it is advisable not to remove them.

Understanding Calcaneal Fracture Fixation: Plate and Screw Considerations

Questions related to internal fixation surgery for calcaneal intra-articular fractures using plates? Hello Dr. Lee, I would like to ask you some questions regarding the use of plates for fixation in the treatment of calcaneal fractures. First, as far as I know, there are traditio...

Dr. Li Yongheng Reply:
1. The traditional Y-shaped plate has screw holes that are not threaded. The self-funded A Plus anatomical plate allows for fewer bone screws to be used in fixation compared to the traditional Y-shaped plate, and the types of bone screws used for both plates are different. 2. T...

Understanding Screw Displacement in Orthopedic Surgery After Fractures

Screw displacement Hello Dr. Lee, I would like to ask about a situation following a car accident where I fractured my tibia and fibula. I underwent surgery and had an intramedullary nail implanted. However, after more than two months, an X-ray showed that one of the screws near t...

Dr. Li Yongheng Reply:
Hello, as long as the bone screws are not displaced significantly due to activities like walking, there should be no major issues, so please don't worry too much.

Understanding Screw Migration After Intramedullary Nail Surgery

Dr. Li Yongheng Reply:
Hello, as long as there is not much displacement of the bone screws due to activities like walking, there should be no major issues, so please don't worry too much.

Understanding Tibial Fractures: Complications and Treatment Options

Tibial fracture Hello Doctor: My brother is a patient with a closed fracture of the upper end of the right tibia and has undergone internal fixation surgery with bone screws. One and a half months after discharge, he was diagnosed with acute hematogenous osteomyelitis of the tibi...

Dr. Chen Yongxue Reply:
1. Is it more suitable for the original surgeon who initially placed the artificial plates and screws to perform the removal and debridement surgery, or is it acceptable for a surgeon from another hospital to do it? What are the pros and cons of each? Having the original surgeon ...

Total Hip Replacement for Osteoporotic Patients: A Stepwise Approach?

Hip joint replacement in patients with osteoporosis? Father (70 y/o, severe osteoporosis): After a femoral neck fracture, he has undergone two surgeries: the first was an open reduction, but the fixation implant protruded, causing a defect in the lateral acetabulum; the second wa...

Dr. Li Yongheng Reply:
Hello, generally speaking, for a femoral neck fracture without displacement, the National Health Insurance regulations in Taiwan only cover open reduction and internal fixation with bone screws. As long as the position of the screws is appropriate, the patient uses a walker, and ...

Managing Chronic Osteomyelitis and Open Wounds: A Patient's Guide

Chronic osteomyelitis and open wounds? Hello, Doctor. My father is 58 years old and has a history of high uric acid and gout. Several years ago, he underwent a procedure to remove bone screws from his calf, which left a wound approximately 1.5 cm in diameter (deep enough to expos...

Dr. Shi Guozheng Reply:
If osteomyelitis is confirmed, surgical intervention to remove necrotic bone and perform bone grafting may improve the condition. Additionally, hyperbaric oxygen therapy has been used for treatment, and antibiotic therapy is also necessary.

Do You Really Need a Sling After Elbow Fracture Surgery?

After surgery for an olecranon fracture, is it necessary to wear a triangular bandage? After surgery for a coronoid fracture, I have been wearing a sling for a full week. When I take off the sling before bed, my arm hurts a lot when I stretch it out straight, possibly because it ...

Dr. Li Yongheng Reply:
Hello, if it is a simple fracture and the bone screws are securely fixed, a triangular bandage may not be necessary. Conversely, in the case of a comminuted fracture, it is usually required to use a triangular bandage for three weeks postoperatively to prevent displacement of the...

Understanding the Differences Between Bone Screws and Bone Cement in Orthopedics

What is the difference between bone screws and bone cement? Hello: My mother fell while pulling her scooter when the handlebar came off, and she sat down on the ground. She was taken to the emergency room for an X-ray, where the medical staff advised that she could rest for a whi...

Dr. Chen Yongxue Reply:
Hello, as mentioned in your letter, it is generally a compression fracture (without neurological damage aside from pain). Conservative treatment (using a Taylor brace) has a success rate of about 80%, but it cannot restore the height of the vertebral body. If the pain persists fo...

Understanding Lumbar Spine Fusion Surgery and Insurance Approval in Taiwan

Vertebral arch issues Thank you, doctor, for your valuable advice. I am Mr. Chen, who mentioned the vertebral arch fracture in previous discussions. The doctor suggested either fusion surgery or discectomy. I would like to ask, since fusion surgery is covered by health insurance,...

Dr. Shi Guozheng Reply:
It may be necessary to perform a discectomy and fusion surgery for the following reasons: 1. The intervertebral disc has herniated and may be compressing a nerve, which requires intervention. 2. If the vertebral arch is fractured, bone grafting for fusion surgery is also necessar...

Broken Bone Screw: Risks and Concerns After Surgery

The bone screw has broken inside the bone! After the car accident, I fractured my left humerus and underwent surgery where a plate and screws were used for fixation. Over a year later, the plate was removed, but the doctor mentioned that one of the screws was too tightly adhered ...

Dr. Li Yongheng Reply:
Hello, it is not uncommon for a bone screw to break inside the bone during plate removal, and it should not be considered a medical error. Generally speaking, retained bone screws should not have any impact on the human body.

Post-Surgery Issues After Clavicle Fracture: What to Expect

Postoperative Issues Related to Clavicle Fracture Surgery Hello Doctor, I had a clavicle fracture from a car accident at the end of last year, and I had the bone screws removed at the end of January this year. I have been using non-dissolvable sutures, but recently the wound has ...

Dr. Shi Guozheng Reply:
The wound may have issues and requires a follow-up with a physician. Typically, a healing wound should not exude fluid or have red, inflamed skin, as these could be signs of infection.

Recovery Timeline After Tibial Plateau Screw and Plate Removal

Removal of screws and plates from the tibial plateau? Hello, I suffered a displaced and comminuted fracture of the tibial plateau in a car accident on January 3rd of this year. If I can have the steel pins and plates removed next year, generally speaking, how long will I need to ...

Dr. Shi Guozheng Reply:
After the removal of the bone screws following a fracture healing, it typically takes one to two weeks to return to normal. Crutches may be used for one to two weeks, and riding a motorcycle can usually be resumed in about two weeks.

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