Implant removal after surgery

After around six months, the implants and screws used to stabilise the fracture should be removed. This is performed under a light general anaesthetic during an outpatient surgical procedure.

Nails, plates and screw made from titanium are used predominantly, as they do not lead to adverse reactions in the body. Nevertheless, implant removal is advisable in most cases.

On the one hand, screws and plates may lead to irritation or even tendon tears over the years. On the other, one should bear in mind that with age an artificial knee joint, for example, may become necessary. Especially when the fracture involved a joint and a plate is still in the tibial plateau or a nail in the tibia, surgical removal must take place before implantation of knee prosthesis can occur. If the original fracture occurred many years ago, implant removal can prove to be a difficult and complex process, as it may have grown into the bone. For this reason, after the fracture has healed (which can be ascertained by x-ray) nails, plates, screws etc., should be removed after ca. ½ to 1½ years – sometimes even earlier, depending on the type and location of the fracture and age of the patient.

If you or your follow-up physician have any questions or require information with regards to implant removal, we request that contact us prior to the planned implant removal.

The implant can, of course, be removed by us at the Sportclinic Zillertal, which has its advantages because we have great experience in performing this surgical technique and our surgeons are acquainted with the materials and methods used by their colleagues. Your operating surgeon can be booked on request.