I'm looking into getting my femur rod removed

Roscoe33
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Roscoe33 12/10/2009 11:12am
12/10/2009 11:12am
Get it OUT !
several years I had a rider who was having problems with his femur rod Pain 10, only 70 % weight bearing) looked at his foot and it was pale and bluish...turned out he had gange green !
Emergency surgery was done, Doc said he was very close to losing his leg !
DR. also stated the rod was impeding blood flow to the foot because of the rod !
ktmracer21 12/10/2009 11:19am
12/10/2009 11:19am
My son shattered his femur back in May. He was recently released to ride but we decided to wait until he has his rod removed this coming May. We were told to leave it in a minimum of a year. I do not like thinking what may happen if it broke while the rod is still in. Here are a few pics, I don't have a pic of the rod from top to bottom but it is from his knee to his hip with alot of cables to hold it together.









kawiracer52 12/10/2009 12:58pm
12/10/2009 12:58pm
wow that looks bad Shocked

ive got a rad in and 2 screws by the knee and one at the hip, I am deciding if I want to get the screws by my knee removed. The sureon said only get them out if they are bothering me and it doesent bother unless i hit it or twist the wrong way and when i do that it hurts for a while. Anyone with similar experiences?
zjbell
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zjbell 12/10/2009 1:15pm
12/10/2009 1:15pm
troublebros wrote:
What about having screws removed from ankles?
It's easy. Outpatient deal, I was walking around the next day.

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Highsider
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Highsider 12/10/2009 1:30pm
12/10/2009 1:30pm Edited Date/Time 12/10/2009 1:54pm
kawiracer52 wrote:
wow that looks bad :ohmy: ive got a rad in and 2 screws by the knee and one at the hip, I am deciding if I...
wow that looks bad Shocked

ive got a rad in and 2 screws by the knee and one at the hip, I am deciding if I want to get the screws by my knee removed. The sureon said only get them out if they are bothering me and it doesent bother unless i hit it or twist the wrong way and when i do that it hurts for a while. Anyone with similar experiences?
Only my friends have gone through what you have, but we always thought the screws were to keep the rotation from occurring, like set screws. Is that correct?
So, once it is solidly healed, all the 'parts' can come out?
WORCSRacer
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WORCSRacer 12/10/2009 1:48pm
12/10/2009 1:48pm
Dirtysmile56 wrote:
Thanks for all the input guys, where else can you find so many people that broke the largest bone in their body doing mostly the same...
Thanks for all the input guys, where else can you find so many people that broke the largest bone in their body doing mostly the same sport. Sorry about the weiner shot but this is serious medical conversation here. This injury has really affected my life, physically and mentally. I am scared to death of going in for another surgery but I am sick of being in pain and discomfort. I know I will never feel that good again mainly because of the severe damage to my hip socket. But I want to try and upgrade my quality of life.
I am assuming that these films are not the current films ?

If so and the new films show that the fractures are well healed, pull it, particularly if the nail has migrated up. If it has migrated the end of the nail will be easy to locate and extract. Barring an infection, pain relief should be immediate and your recovery should be pretty much uneventful.
Dirtysmile56 12/10/2009 3:58pm
12/10/2009 3:58pm
Dirtysmile56 wrote:
Thanks for all the input guys, where else can you find so many people that broke the largest bone in their body doing mostly the same...
Thanks for all the input guys, where else can you find so many people that broke the largest bone in their body doing mostly the same sport. Sorry about the weiner shot but this is serious medical conversation here. This injury has really affected my life, physically and mentally. I am scared to death of going in for another surgery but I am sick of being in pain and discomfort. I know I will never feel that good again mainly because of the severe damage to my hip socket. But I want to try and upgrade my quality of life.
WORCSRacer wrote:
I am assuming that these films are not the current films ? If so and the new films show that the fractures are well healed, pull...
I am assuming that these films are not the current films ?

If so and the new films show that the fractures are well healed, pull it, particularly if the nail has migrated up. If it has migrated the end of the nail will be easy to locate and extract. Barring an infection, pain relief should be immediate and your recovery should be pretty much uneventful.
Hey Worcs, I was hoping you and/or Dr MarkR would come along with some expert advice. These x-rays were only a few weeks after surgery. December 30th will be three years since the accident. I healed very well according to my doctor. It just doesn't feel very good, If I jam it or twist it there is a serious shot of pain through my leg. Sometimes if I put pressure on my left leg such as standing on my left leg and flexing up and down I can feel it put pressure on the end of the femur and into my knee. Weird bone pain. I don't know if it's because there is also a screw just below from a former ACL reconstruction. It's also uncomfortable sleeping on that side. What do you think about removal of the screws and plates from the pelvis/hip socket? My doc isn't too keen on those because he didn't install them. I know that I will eventually need a hip replacement but I want to get all the miles I can out of that one prior to that surgery. I go in tomorrow to get fresh x-rays and discuss the surgery.
jchek779
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jchek779 12/10/2009 4:38pm
12/10/2009 4:38pm
Been living with the femural rod and screws the last 12 years. I also ended up with the heterotopic bone growth above where the rod protrudes from my hip. For the first 2 years, the pain in my hip was unbearable after walking around all day. I ended up going over the bars and f'ing up the bone growth. Not a problem since then.
Still race, run, cycle, swim, and have adult relations with females without issue since then.
dbch
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dbch 12/10/2009 4:53pm
12/10/2009 4:53pm
My son broke his femur when he was 11 - had the rod taken out when he was 12. The bone is hollow after the rod is removed, and it takes approximately six months for the bone to completely fill in. Our son was allowed to start riding after 3 months, and xrays showed that the bone had filled in enough.
AHRMA361 12/10/2009 5:00pm
12/10/2009 5:00pm
Just to show you can have a huge injury in the EXACT same spot as your previous femur surgery....I present to you....my a$$ after launching blindly into the abyss at Gatorback in Gainesville on the first lap, only to see a bike flipping down the hill in front of me. I had plenty of time on the flight down to wonder how bad it was going to hurt. After I came to, I realized it REALLY hurt. I thought I broke my leg again.....but, after being hauled out in, no less, in a Gator, I was happy to find my leg intact. Now, all the road rash from multiple bikes landing on me (I was 3rd off the start for once!) started to ache....

Without further ado...my leg after 2 days of throbbing....easily note the previous staple marks from aforementioned femur breakage/fixage...



Dirtysmile56 12/10/2009 5:34pm
12/10/2009 5:34pm
AHRMA361 wrote:
Just to show you can have a huge injury in the EXACT same spot as your previous femur surgery....I present to you....my a$$ after launching blindly...
Just to show you can have a huge injury in the EXACT same spot as your previous femur surgery....I present to you....my a$$ after launching blindly into the abyss at Gatorback in Gainesville on the first lap, only to see a bike flipping down the hill in front of me. I had plenty of time on the flight down to wonder how bad it was going to hurt. After I came to, I realized it REALLY hurt. I thought I broke my leg again.....but, after being hauled out in, no less, in a Gator, I was happy to find my leg intact. Now, all the road rash from multiple bikes landing on me (I was 3rd off the start for once!) started to ache....

Without further ado...my leg after 2 days of throbbing....easily note the previous staple marks from aforementioned femur breakage/fixage...



Did you have your rod removed?
slomoto
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slomoto 12/10/2009 6:23pm
12/10/2009 6:23pm
got mine out in 18 months, get it out if you crash and bend it they have to remove the whole bone and cut it to pieces to get the rod out and the piece it back together
TheWeapon 12/10/2009 7:03pm
12/10/2009 7:03pm
slomoto wrote:
got mine out in 18 months, get it out if you crash and bend it they have to remove the whole bone and cut it to...
got mine out in 18 months, get it out if you crash and bend it they have to remove the whole bone and cut it to pieces to get the rod out and the piece it back together
Same deal for me, except I had a tibial plate and 7 screws. The way the kind specialist described every detail of the countless surgeries involved if I bent it kept me off the bike till I had it taken out. Feels much better now - every time I bumped it I could feel the screws.... not fun at all...
smc916
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smc916 12/10/2009 7:13pm
12/10/2009 7:13pm Edited Date/Time 12/10/2009 7:14pm
I Broke mine in 2002, the doctor that did my surgery recommended I keep it in. I went to another doctor a couple of years ago because it was really bugging me, he recommended I keep it in. But after hearing from you guys I really want it out!
smc916
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smc916 12/10/2009 7:21pm
12/10/2009 7:21pm

FLmxer
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FLmxer 12/10/2009 9:38pm
12/10/2009 9:38pm Edited Date/Time 4/17/2016 7:24pm
I have had 11 screws and two plates in my right heal since 98' (Gatorback) and at the end of the day it feels like a plate is digging into my tib/fib area and my ankle gets swollen and painful. It's been so long I am worried that it may be a problem having them removed. Also with 11 screws removed will there be any heal left to walk on?
swizcore
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swizcore 12/10/2009 9:41pm
12/10/2009 9:41pm
Damn man, I'd get a few doc opinions for sure. That looks to be some chronic pain later in life.
dirtbikersa 12/11/2009 3:24am
12/11/2009 3:24am


This is what my leg looked like after they put the rod in...


Shortly after I was given the go ahead to ride again I did my tibia plateau! More screws in my knee and back on crutches! Must have been the worst year I have ever had.
Since that year I swore I would never ride a Honda again! (Always easier to blame the bike)

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WORCSRacer
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WORCSRacer 12/11/2009 8:02am
12/11/2009 8:02am
Dirtysmile56 wrote:
Hey Worcs, I was hoping you and/or Dr MarkR would come along with some expert advice. These x-rays were only a few weeks after surgery. December...
Hey Worcs, I was hoping you and/or Dr MarkR would come along with some expert advice. These x-rays were only a few weeks after surgery. December 30th will be three years since the accident. I healed very well according to my doctor. It just doesn't feel very good, If I jam it or twist it there is a serious shot of pain through my leg. Sometimes if I put pressure on my left leg such as standing on my left leg and flexing up and down I can feel it put pressure on the end of the femur and into my knee. Weird bone pain. I don't know if it's because there is also a screw just below from a former ACL reconstruction. It's also uncomfortable sleeping on that side. What do you think about removal of the screws and plates from the pelvis/hip socket? My doc isn't too keen on those because he didn't install them. I know that I will eventually need a hip replacement but I want to get all the miles I can out of that one prior to that surgery. I go in tomorrow to get fresh x-rays and discuss the surgery.
I'd recommend to pull the rod and of course that would include all of the locking screws with it. As far as the recon plates and screws in your acetabulum that is going to be far more invasive proceedure and unless you have some reason to believe that you are currently experiencing a problem related to them I don't think it is worth doing. If after the rod removal you present with some impressive pain then you may consider an arthroscopic proceedure to see what could be cleaned up around and on the articular surfaces of your hip.

DS, It really isn't a case where I'd be thinking hey let's just do one surgery and pull it all.... The rod is most likely what is responsible for your discomfort, I'd start with that.
Dirtysmile56 12/11/2009 8:31am
12/11/2009 8:31am
Dirtysmile56 wrote:
Hey Worcs, I was hoping you and/or Dr MarkR would come along with some expert advice. These x-rays were only a few weeks after surgery. December...
Hey Worcs, I was hoping you and/or Dr MarkR would come along with some expert advice. These x-rays were only a few weeks after surgery. December 30th will be three years since the accident. I healed very well according to my doctor. It just doesn't feel very good, If I jam it or twist it there is a serious shot of pain through my leg. Sometimes if I put pressure on my left leg such as standing on my left leg and flexing up and down I can feel it put pressure on the end of the femur and into my knee. Weird bone pain. I don't know if it's because there is also a screw just below from a former ACL reconstruction. It's also uncomfortable sleeping on that side. What do you think about removal of the screws and plates from the pelvis/hip socket? My doc isn't too keen on those because he didn't install them. I know that I will eventually need a hip replacement but I want to get all the miles I can out of that one prior to that surgery. I go in tomorrow to get fresh x-rays and discuss the surgery.
WORCSRacer wrote:
I'd recommend to pull the rod and of course that would include all of the locking screws with it. As far as the recon plates and...
I'd recommend to pull the rod and of course that would include all of the locking screws with it. As far as the recon plates and screws in your acetabulum that is going to be far more invasive proceedure and unless you have some reason to believe that you are currently experiencing a problem related to them I don't think it is worth doing. If after the rod removal you present with some impressive pain then you may consider an arthroscopic proceedure to see what could be cleaned up around and on the articular surfaces of your hip.

DS, It really isn't a case where I'd be thinking hey let's just do one surgery and pull it all.... The rod is most likely what is responsible for your discomfort, I'd start with that.
Thanks for the advice, I am really looking forward to feeling better. Worcs are you an Ortho Doc?
Dirtysmile56 12/11/2009 8:35am
12/11/2009 8:35am
We should start a thread titled "show off you hardware and breaks". I bet we would see some crazy x-ray films. The best part is most of the injured riders all returned to this beloved sport .
Highsider
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Highsider 12/11/2009 9:18am
12/11/2009 9:18am Edited Date/Time 12/11/2009 9:20am
Dirtysmile56 wrote:
We should start a thread titled "show off you hardware and breaks". I bet we would see some crazy x-ray films. The best part is most...
We should start a thread titled "show off you hardware and breaks". I bet we would see some crazy x-ray films. The best part is most of the injured riders all returned to this beloved sport .
I thought there was one like that within the past six-nine months(?)

http://www.vitalmx.com/forums/Moto-Related,20/broken-bones,240426

I will look for others.
Cody_Carlson 10/27/2011 7:48pm
10/27/2011 7:48pm
hey so 5 years ago i broke my femur about 3 inches or so from the top and so they put in a titanium rod which for the last 5 years i have had no pain no limp up until 3 days ago when i fell from about 5 ft really hard on the broken leg and now i got wicked pain and a nasty limp ( i dont think i rebroke it) and i have tried tyenol anti inflamatorys and nothing seems to be working. Is it possible for the rod to shift? or any idea's? or idea's on how to convince the dr to take the Rod out? as the dr's here in B.C canada can be kinda dumb?
`ol Ger
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`ol Ger 10/27/2011 8:02pm
10/27/2011 8:02pm
I'll take it out for 25% of the price. We work real cheap!
jasonbecker 6/16/2013 8:06pm
6/16/2013 8:06pm
Thinking about getting mine out after reading all these posts
montesagold
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montesagold 6/16/2013 8:53pm
6/16/2013 8:53pm
I have matching tibial rods, earned them two years apart(07/09). Ive always been under the impression that it would be major surgery much like initial operation to have them taken out. My early leg seamed to be harder to get over, latest one easiest but i feal some irritation in it. The first leg has zero negative fealing as if it was never broken. Most on here speak of femur rod removal, is the tibia removal much the same? Has anyone got one removed? Worry of rebreak would be my only reason to consider it.
madmaxperformance 6/16/2013 9:07pm
6/16/2013 9:07pm
montesagold wrote:
I have matching tibial rods, earned them two years apart(07/09). Ive always been under the impression that it would be major surgery much like initial operation...
I have matching tibial rods, earned them two years apart(07/09). Ive always been under the impression that it would be major surgery much like initial operation to have them taken out. My early leg seamed to be harder to get over, latest one easiest but i feal some irritation in it. The first leg has zero negative fealing as if it was never broken. Most on here speak of femur rod removal, is the tibia removal much the same? Has anyone got one removed? Worry of rebreak would be my only reason to consider it.
I'd like to get my tibial rod out as well. Hit a deer on my Harley, and had a compound tib/fib. Shattered the fib. Anyways, it has NEVER been even close to as good as before. I cant run, and sometimes when I try to ride, I get shooting pain if I shock the leg a bit in a corner, or flex it a bit. I think the bone flexes a bit, and the rod doesnt. I wish I would have never got the rod in. I think the external fixator would be better.
Dirtysmile56 6/16/2013 9:25pm
6/16/2013 9:25pm
Jeeze! I forgot about this thread Smile I was so set on getting the rod out(when I started this thread) but I still haven't Smile My insurance company dumped me not long after this thread so the femur rod stays. The good news is that it's not bothering me too bad these days. Be safe out there boys.
GuyB
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GuyB 6/16/2013 9:29pm
6/16/2013 9:29pm
Dirtysmile56 wrote:
Jeeze! I forgot about this thread :) I was so set on getting the rod out(when I started this thread) but I still haven't :) My...
Jeeze! I forgot about this thread Smile I was so set on getting the rod out(when I started this thread) but I still haven't Smile My insurance company dumped me not long after this thread so the femur rod stays. The good news is that it's not bothering me too bad these days. Be safe out there boys.
Glad to hear...well, the not bothering you part, that is. Smile
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JeepnMike 6/16/2013 9:46pm
6/16/2013 9:46pm
Another member here of the broken femur gang (mine at the knee, happened at Jolly Rogers for the SEA locals). My only advice is that the metal that they told you 'might' not bother you and you could leave it in, when you get older, those things start to really freaking hurt. I decided to have mine removed when on a few occasions while trying to carry my baby down stairs I almost collapsed in pain. Just the right amount of twist or whatever hit that special nerve that would drop you to your knees.

I never thought about that scenario of breaking it with a rod in it and what happens after that. That is really freaking scary and should inspire anybody with a rod to want to get rid of it at the earliest convenience.

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