Implanted metal will facilitate broken bones to heal properly. They help to maintain the correct position while healing takes place.
Once the healing has completed, those metal implants might not be required any further. Whereas implants are usually designed to remain within the body forever, they will not be required and will doubtlessly cause issues.
Implants could include:
- Metal plates and screws   
- Pins
- Intramedullary Rods
In most cases, it is not necessary for implants to be removed. There are some exceptions where the doctor could advocate an implant removal. For instance, some doctors advocate the removal of syndesmotic screws (for high gliding joint sprains) before weight-bearing is resumed.
However, in most cases, implants are kept within the body while not inflicting issues, and also the removal of an implant must not be thought of a "routine" a part of treatment.
Removing Metal Implants
In some patients, metal implants will cause irritation to close tissues. This might cause inflammation, tendonitis, or irritation. In these cases, removal of the metal could relieve this irritation. A number of the signs of problematic metal include:
- Pain directly at the placement of the metal implant
- Rubbing of the metal implant beneath the skin
- Grinding sensations around the metal implant
There are potential complications of the surgery to get rid of metal implants. The foremost common drawback is the fact that metal removal will be quite tough, particularly with deep implants that are there for a long period of time.
Furthermore, removing the implant will cause weakening of the bone wherever the implant was removed. For instance, fractures through holes wherever screws were constituted aren't uncommon. Ask the doctor the potential issues related to implant removal.
Metal implants will cause problems once an infection is developed. Metal implants will become a supply for persistent infection within the body.
For this reason, metal implants will harbor persistent infection, forestall surgical wounds from healing, and cause alternative potential issues. In these things, the metal implant could be removed, merely to cure an infection.
Should Implants Be Removed?
If the patient has symptoms caused by metal irritation, then removal of the implant is also useful. The doctor will assist the patient and verify the possibility that metal removal can alleviate his symptoms, as this has to be evaluated on a case by case basis.
Understand that removing the implants may have potential complications.