Humerus fracture, plate removal

Eighteen months ago my husband had a severe humerus fracture.The humerus was fractured as though it was sliced in the manner one would filet a fish. Due to heart health issues,diabetes and the Dr. hoping for some repair of the humerus( he had a brace and sling), the surgery was delayed for three weeks. My husband has a plate and approximately eight screws in the bone. After therapy and months of healing he has finally regained movement of the fingers but has major pain and limited shoulder movement. My question is can the plate and screws be removed? Is it possible that the screws and or plate could be touching nerves that have healed around it causing the pain?
Thank you in advance for your time.

Sincerely, Oneheart

[JainMD]

Hi,
You need to get x-ray done for him.
This x-ray needs to be reviewed and to decide whether fracture has healed. If there are signs of fracture healing and range of motion across the shoulder joint and elbow joint is normal non-painful, then you can discuss with the surgeon about removal of screws and plates.
Injury to the nerve occurs in ~11% of humerus fractures and can occur at the time of initial injury, during closed reduction, or during operative repair.
You should be discussing this with your surgeon and decide regarding further management.
Keep me posted if you have enquiries.
Bye.

[Praveen339]

Hi,

Last month, my sister met with a road accident and she had superacondyular-intracondyular fracture of left humerus.

In the hospital, doctors adviced for ORIF and I gave the consent as doctors said, there is no alternative and I beleive that Doctors are Living Gods.

It's been 28 days post to surgery. now finger movements and wrist movements are almost back to normal and she can lift the hand voluntarely upto 20 degrees against gravitation without any support.

Please answer my below queries.

1. Are the above momements are signs of Bone recovery or nerve recovery.

2. When can be hardwares removed [By God's grace, after everything is good]

3. while removal of hardwares, will they do the suregery at same place or different place [I am worried of two two scars on her elbow].

Waiting for replies.
Yours faithfuly,
Praveen

[chitra140]

I am 28 yrs old Girl ,i had got multiple factures in my right hand should neck of humerus ,i got the surgery done with plate & 8 screws .Its been 5 & half months now,i have gained 135 degrees movement but while doing the lateral movement i get pain.As per my surgoen my plate is erroding the other bone so i should get the plate removal done.The bone has almost united as per him.Is it safe to get plate removal done so early?Can i face any complications if i get plate removal done?

Thanks & Regards
Chitra

[raghu7333]

Hi ,

I have  a plate with 6 screws in my humerus , the procedure was done in 2008 feb , I am looking forward to have the same removed , please help suggest wether the surgery would be more painful than the insersion , & wether additional bone grafting required to fill up the empty holes after removal of the screws from them ?

Thanks for help,

Yours faithfully ,

Raghu R