Removing fibular rod/screws after seven years?

[snjones]

Due to severe osteoporosis, my mom (at 69yo) spontaneously fractured her left tibia and fibula -- while simply walking down the stairs. At that time the doctors convinced her to keep the fibular rods and screws in place.

Today, some seven years later, she has completely reversed her osteoporosis [to mild osteopenia] using supplements (e.g., strontium, vitamin K2, vitamin D3, calcium/magnesium/phosphorus) and exercise. However, she still feels pain and discomfort in her left leg due to the fibular rod and screws -- especially in humid environments or after physical exertion. Therefore she is contemplating having them removed.

My question is: after seven years of bone growth would removal be feasible? And exactly how much risk and recovery time is there involved for a 76yo otherwise healthy and active woman?

[amandaalarcon]

I have a rod and screws in my femur.  In Osteology, I learned that I could have it removed but my bone would be fragile and hollow down the center.  It would take many months for the bone to regenerate soild, and you would essentially be unable to put any weight on it, meaning your mother would be in a wheelchair or on crutches. With every year in age, bone regeneration slows, so it could be at least six months.  Plus, there is a risk of infection and complications from surgery that you must consider.   Furthermore, I would check with an orthopaedic doctor, as it sounds as if she has bursitis, a treatable form of arthritis that may develop due to trauma.  I had this in my knee from the surgeons drilling in the screws.  

I was thinking about getting the rod removed several years ago, as even when I was 19 years old I had the same discomfort symptoms as your mother. My friend's brother pulled me aside and actually handed me the rod that he had removed from his leg.  He was 20 years old, and said that the experience of having the rod removed was by far more traumatic and painful than breaking the bone in the first place.  My surgeon also told me, "We can remove it, but there's no reason to, with every healed fracture there may be sensitivity to humidity, etc.  Plus, with this titanium in there, you will NEVER break this bone again."  So, that was eleven years ago...and I am fine. My advice: Keep the rod.  She will never break those bones again if she falls, the rehab is too much and I don't think more trauma to remove the rod  will stop the symptoms she is having.  Buy a tempur-pedic mattress (or a good knock-off); I sleep so much better and I can lay on the offending hip without pain.  Good Luck!

[Trudat]

I am on the other side.  I had a rod in my femur for 14 years without a problem.  Then suddenly, without any warning, it starting becoming very painful.  What had happened was that it had started to inch upward and was rubbing and twisting against the tendons, muscles and nerves, which was extremely painful.  I made the decision to have it removed.  It took them a bit longer to get out than they had anticipated because bone had grown so much around it, but they got it out without too much problem.  And the pain I was having is gone.  I do, of course have new pain, from the surgery.  That is to be expected.  I can put weight on it though, as much as I want.  I started using just one crutch only a week after surgery.  It's not so bad.  It will take about 4-5 more weeks for the bone to fully grow back in.  And in the mean time I am taking Strontium, Vitamin D3, Calcium, Boron and Women's Daily Vitamins.  Also having a rod in your leg does not mean that you won't break that bone again.  It does mean that if you were to break that bone again, it would be extremely hard to fix beause the rod would be all bent and twisted inside the bone.  I recommend weighing your options.  If she is in a lot of pain then talk to the doctor....get blood work, make sure it's not a bone infection, get a bone scan done.  And if it is still painful, remove the rod, if it's right for her.  

[snjones]

Thanks guys. I appreciate the real world responses. Gives some food for thought, and lets me know what to expect. Too bad we weren't aware of those aforementioned supplements as a preventitive measure, as they really do help build bone and reverse osteoporosis. Instead my mom took Fosamax and Tums (calcium carbonate) as the doctor suggested, which was more or less a disaster.