Keeping the hardware?

[scotts 0]

Last month i broke my tib/fib and now i wonder whether to have the rod removed from the tibia in the future. I've committed myself to keeping it, but i'd like to get other points of view, from those who have/haven't had their hardware removed. Having it done in the off-season is out, as i'm on call 24/7 during the winter.

[Jimbo 0]

Quote

This may be a post more appropriate for the Safety and Training Forum but I will let the moderators determine that and move it if appropriate.

My father did the same thing a few years back. He broke his femur and had a rod installed. The doctors encouraged him not to jump because if he had another bad landing that would have broken the same leg, the steel rod would have just split the bone lengthwise and he would probably be looking at amputation. After several months, he did jump, was extra cautious and nothing bad happened. At the earliest possibility he had the rod removed, and he is still jumping.

John Verley

-
Jim

"Like" - The modern day comma
Good bye, my friends. You are missed.

[scotts 0]

Thanks Jimbo, i saw that post and that's what made me want to get more opinions. I'm sure there are people who are jumping w/hardware and may have been for some time. Those are the people i'd like to hear from. Both good and bad.

[Clownburner 0]

You should get it removed. But then keep it, mounted on a little wooden plank, as a reminder to always be careful.

7CP#1 | BTR#2 | Payaso en fuego Rodriguez
"I want hot chicks in my boobies!"- McBeth

[tigra 0]

Every case is different, I guess. I broke my tib fib as well (at the ankle). I had a plate, a pin and 7 screws. My first doctor said I could just leave them in, and the SOONEST they could come out would be in 2 years, but said that plenty of people kept the metal in and it didn't bother them. The ortho I went to for all my follow up again initially said 2 years, but recommended getting it out. He said removing it would help the bone grow, and I was young enough (at 36) that it was worthwhile to do.

As it turns out, just a few months after the cast was off, and the swelling had pretty much gone away, you could see and feel the screws under my skin, and they just became more prominent as the months wore on. Can anyone else relate?? Also, the metal was extremely sensitive to temperature changes. On cold days, rainy days, days where there were just storm systems building up in the area, my ankle would just ache!

The doc gave the OK to have it removed after a year, and I waited a couple of months to have it done "in the off season". No regrets! I have close to 100% range of motion and while my ankle will never be "good as new", its good!

And, I'll add that I just never felt comfortable jumping or landing with the metal in my ankle!

And, I did keep it. I have it all in a bag somewhere, but I never got around to making jewelry or a wind chime with it like I told my doctor I would!

Sorry for the long winded response!

Peace & Blue Skies!

maura

[dove 0]

Shattered and compressed my tibial plateau last year. The hardware wasn't painful, but it was annoying. I felt it sometimes and I found it kinda difficult to kneel in the plane to get gear checks, etc. The hardware restricted my ability to sit back on my heels, as well as other movement a little bit. Once I got the hardware out I was good as new. Doc didn't want to remove it cause he's of the belief that you shouldn't cut open unless necessary. But I told him I am very active and I was aware of it all the time and I didn't want to have discomfort for the rest of my life, no matter how slight. So he agreed and it was the best thing for me. If you can be au naturel, why not? Just my opinion. Good luck with whatever you decide.

Edited to say that I had read lots of posts on mybrokenleg.com from people who waited a long time to get it out. Some got it out eventually due to complications with it (body can eventually reject it) or because of another surgery and as long as the doc was in there he took it out. ALL of them said they didn't realize how much their hardware limited them until they had it out and it was such an immense difference. They all said they wish they had it taken out way sooner.

Fall in dove.

[stylinmike1 0]

Quote

Last month i broke my tib/fib and now i wonder whether to have the rod removed from the tibia in the future. I've committed myself to keeping it, but i'd like to get other points of view, from those who have/haven't had their hardware removed. Having it done in the off-season is out, as i'm on call 24/7 during the winter.

Great question!

I'm recovering from a compound tib/fib in May and the doc is strongly recommending pulling the hardware - soon as in 3 weeks. Doc didn't make removing the plate & screws optional though. I can already feel the screws & plate on the fib through the skin and it's very tender in the air cast that I'm wearing now.

Right now, I can't wait to get this metal out of my leg, but I'm also interested in the perspective of other 'steely legged' skydivers, the choices they made and why.

stylinmike

(>O]-<

[scotts 0]

I have a rod from my knee to my ankle with 2 anchoring screws holding it from turning inside the bone. The screws can be removed easily or so i'm told. But the rod being 12-13" long will be another story. Removing that would be another surgery and a long recovery. How long i don't know.

Amazingly i'm at the dz more now than when i could jump (it's cheaper when you're hurt), but today i'm going to mybrokenleg.com (that's too funny).

• Quote

[Tonto 1]

I have mine. It looks like a small rake.

t

It's the year of the Pig.