Are you having or contemplating removal of tibial plate and screws for a tibial plateau fracture? What to generally expect during surgery & recovery. Painful?
May 24th, 2017, after a 4 night stay at a 5 star hotel hospital I was discharged with a diagnoses of left shoulder avulsion fracture and left bicondylar tibial plateau fracture status post external fixator surgery. I was just embarking upon a long recovery journey with barely a clue how I would get through the next week, let alone the next year.
And what a journey it has been. I’ve had some ugly cries and some great belly laughs in between. And guess what? I made it through.
Why I decided to have hardware removal surgery.
Here it was exactly one year later to the day on May 24th, 2018 and I was entering the hospital for outpatient surgery. Hardware removal day had finally arrived. Woot woot!
Removal of Tibial Plate and Screws:
So many thoughts were running through my head as I lay there in preop waiting patiently for my surgeon to finish up his two surgeries before mine. Obviously, I was nervous about another surgery, but also excited to get some of this hardware out of my leg. Still a little bummed he wasn’t removing it all, but some was better than none.
As the nurses and OR staff buzzed about me drawing my blood work, starting an IV, and waterboarding interviewing me for my medical history, I couldn’t help but feel anxious. There is always that ONE thought in the back of your mind. You know the one… what if I die on the table?
What if this is it, my final curtain call. My final good bye to loved ones? Or in my case, just my partner, as my kids and the rest of my family live in another state.
Still, phone calls and texts were made and “I love you” ‘s were exchanged the night before. And just in case the ultimate was to happen while I was under anesthesia, I made sure TZ took me out for a juicy steak dinner with a side of creamy mac and cheese and a piece of chocolate cake the size of Texas for dessert.
There may or may not have been a lemon drop martini tossed in for good measure. Girlfriend’s not trying to peace out on a salad spritzed with lemon juice for her last meal.
But here I am my fellow TPF campers. I lived to tell the tale! You’re looking at a bonafide post hardware removal survivor. It wasn’t all rainbows and fireflies I’ll tell you that right up front. Certainly not anything like my first two surgeries, probably more like a walk in the park with a few trips over some branches…for comparison’s sake.
My surgeon came to visit me before I went back to the OR. He looked at me and said “Do you have any questions?” To which I replied, “Yeah, I have a couple.” He was double tasking flipping through my chart and listening at the same time.
“Can I keep my hardware?” I was prepared to fight him on this request, but he matter of factly said “Sure.” without even looking up from my chart.
I then uncovered my leg and asked, “Can you do my scar like you did the first time?” He closed the chart and quizzically walked over to look at my scar. “Yep, I’ll make it as pretty as I did the first time.”
He appeared seemingly impressed with his prior handy work. I swear I have a tiny crush on my surgeon. Mostly because he’s been such an instrumental part of my recovery. He’s such a skilled surgeon and listens to my concerns, even if it seems he’s not listening, he is.
They finally wheeled me back to the OR and left me conscious longer than they did last year when I was getting the hardware placed. They pretty much gased my ass upon being wheeled into the OR. This time, they let me scooch over from my bed to the OR table.
The versed had definitely kicked in at this point and the OR nurses and CRNA were making small talk with me. God only knows what I said to them with that versed on board. I do remember them laughing though.
Once they got my arms strapped down on the board they placed the mask over my face. As I lay there looking up at 2 faces opposite each other directly leaning into me one calmly said, “We’re going to give you some oxygen now, just take in some deep breaths and relax.” I knew better.
Oxygen Ha! Why didn’t they just tell me it was time to go nighty night?
This is the time where anyone about to go under thinks to themselves matter of factly, ya know, I’m going to remember this moment. I’m definitely going to be aware of when I become sleepy and know EXACTLY the moment I’m going under. Turns out there’s no fine line between them placing the mask over your face after the first few breaths, to being conscious of when nappy time is imminent.
Literally. It’s just mask over your face, breath, breath,…nothing.That’s it. No recollection whatsoever of becoming sleepy.
Next thing I know, I’m coming to in recovery and I hear my boyfriend and my recovery nurse conversing about pain meds and anti emetics.
I remember asking if could get up to pee. That’s like music to a recovery nurse’s ears. One more check off the post op discharge criteria list. The nurse and my boyfriend helped me up to the bathroom and she made my boyfriend stay in there with me while I pee’d.
A year ago, I would have been like, “Get the fuck out of here!” But after what he’s seen and had to help me with during my recovery, this was nothing.
Sure enough on my way back from the bathroom, I got nauseous and threw up. They gave me some Zofan, but I generally respond much better to Phenergan. Once I was a little more awake, I noticed my hardware sitting in a plastic container on my bedside tray.
I was so happy they didn’t forget to give it to me, but didn’t have the energy nor wanting to look at it yet.
They discharged me home with a pain med prescription and gave my verbal and written discharge instructions to my boyfriend since I was dry heaving and still out of it. We arrived home and I went straight for the couch and didn’t move from there the rest of the night except to pee. Alone!
The next morning I was feeling less nauseous and my leg felt great. A little too great in fact, but I just went with it. I finally took a peek at my hardware in the container and counted 7 screws and one plate.
Christ on a stick! No wonder why I was in so much pain! I measured the plate at 4.5 inches long. I thought I only had 9 screws total and there were 7 in the container.
I still have a smaller plate and screws on the medial side of my left knee. At least at my next post op visit, once I see my next set of x-rays I’ll be able to get a total count of all the screws finally. Bonus round. I’ll get to see the swiss cheese holes the other HW left behind.
After 24 hours, what ever they had spinally numbed me with, wore off and the pain set in. I wasn’t walking around so much anymore like I was the shit. Now, it was a little more gimpy.
Still, nothing compared to my first 2 surgeries’ postoperative pain.
I was allowed full weight bearing right away thank goodness. I couldn’t imaging going through a non weight bearing period again. I pretty much just laid around for the long Memorial holiday weekend and went back to work on Tuesday with no restrictions.
The only restrictions I really had was just to take it easy and not shower. Uuuummmm what? No.
I’m showering, especially if I’m going to work. So I just wrapped my leg in a huge plastic garbage bag and duct taped it. It worked perfectly. Why on earth did he have me wrapped up like a mummy though?
I went to work the following Tuesday and since I didn’t see any swelling over the weekend, didn’t bother to elevate my leg while I was working.When I got home from work I had to fight to get my shoe off. The swelling was pretty bad so I elevated and iced it the whole next day.
As the days went on the wrapping on my leg kept getting shorter and shorter. I cut it and rewrapped it so it was just covering the length of my incision. I could definitely feel right away, from the moment I woke up in recovery that the heavy feeling in my leg was gone.
I could feel the metal on the left side of my leg was gone and it felt wonderful.
I took it easy the first week and then reintroduced walking around the block again. Can I just tell you how great it feels not to have that metal digging into my bone? That feeling of a wooden peg leg is all but gone.
No more tuning fork sensation running down my leg. Sure, there’s still some soreness, incisional pain and what feels like mild shin splints when I walk, but all those pains are lessening daily.
Since I can’t get in to see my surgeon until the June 20th, at the two week mark I took off all my dressings and left my incision open to air. It looks pretty good for the most part. My surgeon uses glue instead of staples or clips.
He does some sort of dissolvable purse string suture on the underside of the incision and then glues the edges of the incision shut. I did put some steri strips toward the bottom of my incision where it wasn’t completely closed. The cankle swelling is also down and my ankle finally showed up the the post TPF HWR par-tay!
No doubt I’ll obsess about getting a flesh eating staph infection until I see that the incision has completely closed. I don’t regret having the surgery for one second and feel vindicated that I was right about it being the hardware that was causing my pain.
Funny thing is though, now I can feel the hardware on the other side, which was one of my fears when my surgeon said he did’t want to take it all out. I’m going to give it some time though because it may just be the trauma of the surgery and healing going on in my knee that is making me think it’s the other hardware. Although, I’m almost certain it’s the hardware. But again, I will give it more time. <eye roll>
I’m looking forward to my continued recovery and reintroduction to more strenuous exercises and activities to get my leg and body even stronger. I feel like I want to take my surgeon out to dinner and tell him how much I love him, but that would just be awkward and creepy. As always, happy healing TPF friends.
Read update: how I’m doing post hardware removal here.
Further medical information on hardware removal.
So glad everything went well. I’m still recovering and am 8 weeks post surgery. Going into my 4th week of PT and only have a ROM of about 74 degrees with help bending. Slow and steady wins the race. I’ll get full ROM soon is what I keep telling myself. Be blessed
Hi Natasha. I’m sorry for your injury, but welcome to the TPF camper’s club! I was probably around the same ROM as you are at 4 weeks post op. After awhile, I stopped obsessing so much about my ROM number and just trusted it would come back. Don’t get me wrong, I still worried about it, but didn’t obsess, hehe. There was a time that I was just stuck at about 120 degrees but I broke through that barrier. By the time I was discharged from PT last September, I was fully functional. I still can’t get my heel to touch my butt like my right leg does, but now with some of the hardware out, I’m hoping I’ll be able to do it again. I’ve no idea why I need to do that, but I just do! I wish you all the best in your recovery
Congratulations!! So happy to hear your surgery was successful 🙂
Thanks Melissa. I hope you’re doing well.
Great article, Sherri. I’ve been thinking about having it done, but nothing planned yet. Continued healing to you.
How far along in your recovery are you Shelly? Whatever you decide, I wish you all the best.
Oh Lord! I have been praying for you Sherri, since the day you told us here about your hardware removal surgery! I am so happy, and in so much joy like it was myself! I believe you get connectted with people that have been through ur same situation. I am very happy everything came out well, I know God was in that operation room. Keep it up my friend, you are a warrior. Thank you so much for your wisdom, and inspiration. Iam in my six month TPS n I am walking without any assistance (thanks God) however sometimes my leg hurts in that tibia bone side, n I get frustrated but I said; you know Rachet pain might be because the bone still healing” Well I manage every single day with a better attitude, n try to give my best, one thing I’ll always said, I am grateful with God for gift me the priviledge of walk again. Good luck Sherri. Keep it up!
Rachel, you’re the sweetest! Yes, I do think we tend to connect with those who have suffered and endured the awful injury. At 6 months there’s no doubt that your leg is still healing. It takes up to a year or more for recovery then factor in all the other complications that are served up as a side dish with this injury. As crappy as a TPF injury is, it really is a gift to walk again. Some people in wheelchairs will never have that chance. I say a prayer of gratitude every morning my feet hit the floor. I wish you all the best Rachel.
Hi Sherri,
Hi Sherri, Have been waiting to hear how you are doing after your surgery; the amount of hardware that was removed was amazing. So glad you are able to get around and hopefully your pain when walking will improve greatly. Thank you again for helping us all through these difficult and frustrating times. Your encouragement and positive attitude is a daily reminder to keep at it and not let a bad day get us down.
Wishing you continued healing!
Hi Sherri, just to say hi, and check in how u r doing after your hardware removal. I am looking forward to do the same in the near future. Question, you think drink wine is bad for my bone? I havent since my surgery.
Hi Carmen, I’m 6 weeks post op off of my HWR. As the weeks pass, I’m doing better and better. At first I thought I was feeling the other side of the hardware still in behind my knee, but as I’ve healed I realize it was just the aches and pains of my leg recovering and healing from another surgery. I still get stiff legged and have aches and pains just from the general damage caused by the break, but as time moves on and I adjust to my new normal, I’d have to say overall I’m doing really well.
I still lack a lot of quad strength but now that the holes in my bone where the hardware was, is finally almost healed, I’m ready to get back to some cardio exercises and things like kettle bell.
As for drinking wine while healing, I personally don’t believe it’s going to hurt your healing at all, especially if done in moderation. I pulled back on my alcohol consumption while I was in the early stages of healing, but there were those days when I was immersed in crying thinking I was never going to walk again, and my boyfriend would fix me a stiff cocktail to cheer me up and help me relax. I healed just fine! So no, overall I don’t think wine consumption is going to interfere with your healing.
Hope you are healing and doing well.
Thank you for responding. I am Rachel, we spoke before here in this platform, my name changed to Carmen in here, I guess because when I posted the comment, I used my other email ( I have two work/personal), but Iam Rachel. Ok sweetie good to know you are doing good. I speak about all your positive posts, and experiences with my family all the time. As I mentioned in my last comment, you tend to related, and have simpathy with those who have walked this dark n difficult path. In regards to the wine, YES! sometimes I really want to seat n relax a little, with my cup of wine. Well, again I am glad you are getting better n better, God is good!
Hi Sherri, I suffered a depressed tibial plateau fracture on April 22, 2018. I am 68 year young and was training for my first triathlon (my kids do them) when I fell unclipping from my bike before even leaving the parking lot. Embarrassing to say the least. I went to an urgent care facility because going to the emergency room would take too long. The PA took one x-ray and told me that I had a bone bruise and sent me out the door with crutches. By Wednesday, I decided that I had better see an Orthopedic Surgeon because I didn’t think a bone bruise would hurt as much as I did. The surgeon looked at the x-ray, did an exam, gave me a simple knee brace and sent me to get an MRI. I went to a funeral the day before the MRI and because it was only a “bone bruise” I didn’t use the crutches. Stupid me. Had my MRI Friday and was told to call my doctor’s office (he was going out of town for 10 days) on Monday. Friday night I received a call from the doctor on call telling me I needed to get off my leg and be in his office on Monday morning. I didn’t know what a depressed tibial plateau fracture was but felt that it couldn’t be all that bad if I could walk on it. Little did I know. Monday, the doctor who called me took three additional x-rays and when he turned around to show me the x-rays I knew it wasn’t good. He said I needed surgery immediately, that he no longer did surgery as he is 71 years old, he tried to help me get in to see someone to no avail. I finally got an appointment 7 days later to see another P.A. in another office. So, I see the P.A. and he tells me that their office can’t do the surgery and refers me to another doctor which I cannot get in to see for another 7 days, because the P.A. didn’t correctly code my injury and therefore they didn’t realize the severity of my fracture. By this time, I am very anxious, in pain and a little scared of what might happen. Finally, I see the new Orthopedic doctor. He said, well, I would like to have seen you the day after your injury. I said that would have been nice. He checked with his scheduler and asked when the next available surgery time was, guess what….it was in another 7 days! I just about fell apart. Thank goodness, my doctor took matters into his own hands and volunteered to do my surgery after hours the next evening, 19 days after my injury. I could have kissed him. I am starting my 9th week post op and I can identify with all the feelings that you went thru, paid, med issues, stomach and contipation issues, crying, getting mad, feelings of helplessness and feeling like I will never be the same again, which I probably won’t. But, also like you, now that I am able to bear weight on my leg and drive again (it was my left leg), I am starting to feel hopeful again. This is indeed a long, long recovery. I am so glad that you are out the other side and are able to get on with your life. You have given me the hope I needed to see this injury through. Thank you for writing about it and sharing your experience. There is no way anyone who hasn’t gone thru this experience can understand the frustration that goes along with the recovery. I too am grateful for each small step forward and have so much compassion for those who suffer chronic illness or who have permanent injuries. I will look forward to hearing more about your recovery. Thank you again for sharing your story.
I broke my ankle and tibial plateau on March 6 and had surgery with hardware implants on March 8 (ankle) and March 10. I’m on one crutch now and working on getting my right knee to straighten out entirely. Every few weeks during the recovery process I make new discoveries. Last Thursday I discovered another numb patch near one of my ankle incisions, and today, for the first time, I think I felt some of the tibial plateau hardware. I also got on my knees for the first time today searching for a physical therapy pad beneath my bed — and I think that I can feel that metal plate. I stopped seeing the surgeons in May but am continuing to see my occupational health doctor (injuries happened at work), so I will ask him what the synptoms to look for regarding the need to have hardware removed.
Susan, I’m so very sorry for your injury. Yes, if you think your hardware is causing issues, you really should get it checked out and push to have it removed. Once you’re healed there is no reason to keep it. Yes, there’s risks involved in removing it, which is why my surgeon only took out the lateral side of my hardware and left the hardware behind my knee, but the potential benefits of having it removed far exceeded the risk in my opinion. And I’m glad I made the decision to get it removed because it has been such a relief of pain. A broken ankle as a side! I know I didn’t break my ankle but suffered a lot of ankle swelling while laid up and a lot of ankle pain when I went full weight bearing. I can’t imagine a broken ankle too! But I did have a broken shoulder but didn’t have to walk on it, and it healed much quicker than my leg. I wish you all the best.
Hi Sherri. I suffered a plateau tibia fracture on February 5th, 2018 and had surgery 2 weeks later. I am doing well, can stand for 9 hours at work, still have some pain but it is bearable. Am able to bend my knee more & more, still not kneeling on it and still taking one stair at a time going up and down due to pain but mostly fear. I am 7 months post-op and my surgeon said I am ready for hardware removal. He said I should plan for 2 weeks off work after removal but after being off 3 months I can’t afford 2 weeks more. When I had the initial surgery I did not get the block and what a mistake that was. I have never been in that kind of pain. Would you recommend it for the removal? I am reluctant to get it because I want to get moving as soon as I can after. I had the hardware removed from my wrist a year and a half ago and it was a piece of cake. Not much pain, swelling, just a little discomfort and I was back to work in a couple days. The hardware in my leg is driving me crazy, causes pain and it seems like getting it out is going to give me so much relief not to mention more movement. And like you my thigh muscle is still much smaller on my right leg which causes my leg to lean in toward the mid section at the knee. If you could let me know what to realistically expect I would greatly appreciate it. Unlike you, all the hardware is being removed which is on the posterior side of my right knee. 1 plate and 9 screws I believe
Wow, most surgeon’s won’t even touch the hardware until after a year, but I knew I wanted mine out as soon as I went full weight bearing. I was so relieved when my surgeon said he would remove what was bothering me. After I had it partially removed, I thought I was feeling the other side, but now that 12 weeks has passed, I honestly don’t feel the other hardware, I was just healing from the hardware removal. I’m doing so much better with it out!
Realistically? There is no way I would have been able to do a job standing after hardware removal. While it was a “walk in the park” compared to the break and ORIF surgery, there still is swelling and pain associated with the surgery. I was full weight bearing right after the surgery and I must have had that block, which my surgeon didn’t even tell me about. After the surgery, aside from the nausea/vomiting from anesthesia, I thought, this isn’t so bad, but after the block wore off, I had pain and swelling. Nothing compared to the original surgery, but still, pain is pain. And swelling is swelling. Of course, we all react differently. I can’t give you a solid answer as to what will happen with you. I just know that if I had to stand at my job, there is no way I could have done it post hardware removal, at least not for 8 hours. Maybe you don’t need 2 weeks, but would your employer be willing to give you a week off? If worst comes to worst, you probably could work and have to work through the pain. At this point, after recovering from this injury, we can pretty much get through anything if we have to.
I wish you well with your surgery and recovery and hope all goes well for you. Be blessed and well.
Hi Sherri,
I’m glad to hear your partial hardware removal went so well. I’m now 14 months post-injury / post-op and back to my normal level of physical activity, which for me has meant (gradually) resuming with hiking, running and training in dance. When I’m active, I can mostly forget about my injury and am rarely aware of the plate and screws, but when I sit or lie still for long periods of time, my knee gets stiff and I often feel a surprising amount of pain at the surgical site. I’m thinking about a follow-up with my surgeon, because I suspect the hardware may be to blame. While I’d rather not undergo another surgery, it was very helpful to read about your experience and to know how positive it has been overall.
Couple of questions – Did your surgeon indicate a general timeline for regenerating bone where the screws previously were? And have you been advised to reduce your level of physical activity until that process is complete?
Hi Tanya, great to hear you’re doing well overall. When I had my partial HWR last May 2017, my surgeon simply instructed me to give it 6 to 8 weeks before I resumed any tenuous activity? Hahahahaha, what’s considered strenuous activity these days? Joking aside, it’s not like I was running anyway. Bone generally takes 6 to 8 weeks to regenerate, of course every person is different. My best advice is to ask your surgeon what he recommends for you. Let me also interject that while I didn’t want to under go another surgery as well, it was the right decision for me. In my experience, the removal surgery didn’t even hold a candle to the original. So much easier and less pain overall. The best part being I was allowed to walk immediately after surgery! I wish you all the best!
wow… and this is your life….. for everybody to see…..people are so shallow and bored..
Thanks for sharing your story. I’m a little
more than 8 months past my ORIF and working on building up strength in advance of having my hardware removed in late September/early October. Everyone’s on board with hardware removal due to a post surgical infection. Looking forward to improved range of motion and less pain once it’s gone.
I had Lateral Tibial Plateau Fracture hardware removal surgery at the end of November 2018. A plate and seven screws were removed. Ever since surgery my knee is very stiff and often feels like the hardware is still in place. My surgeon did not provide any post-op information as far as what I should expect. Simply said it would take approx. 4 months to heal. Now 8 months later, it doesn’t feel much better. Any advice/suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
I broke both TPT’s 3 years ago and am going in for my 2nd hardware removal surgery in a few days. Funny how I’ve already had it done and yet I’m reading your blog post about recovery because I’m worried that my memory is failing me because all I can remember is it being a super quick and easy recovery. Thanks for sharing and helping other be at ease with this!
I just found your blog. I am going in for hardware removal next week and I was uncertain about recovery time.
I am 63 and had a displaced fracture of the tibial plateau July 2018. I fell down at a horse show after dismounting and had to keep telling people, “no, I did not fall off a horse”.
I was non weightbearing for about 3 months and had to stay in a nursing home the whole time. It has taken awhile, but I’m finally back to my regular exercise and riding. I know exactly what you are talking about with ROM. I can’t quite touch my butt with my heel, but I’m hoping the hardware removal will allow it.
I just came across your blog and am curious as to how your pain was post-op for the hardware removal. Did you need the prescription pain meds? How long? I am going in for mine in two weeks and am just wondering what to expect. My surgeon makes it sound like it’s easy and quick and I’ll be on my feet a day later but we all know they exaggerate greatly.
Yes I had the usual pain from post op surgery, but nothing like the original surgeries post break. Hardware removal was very different, at least for me. I did use pain meds for a brief period after my partial removal. I walked to the bathroom right after my surgery. No assistive devices except my boyfriend guiding me. I didn’t have any weight bearing restrictions post removal surgery, which was great. I wish you all the best.
I am coming to believe we have the same surgeon LOL! In my appointment last week he was admiring the healed incision as he described how he would go in to remove the hardware etc. like it was no big deal. He uses glue to seal. I’m preparing for my HWR and thekitchen prescription shows up in my search! Love your blogs. My surgeon will do no HWR until I’m a year out….so I’ll have to struggle with it for a few more months. But from your experience it is comforting to know you can walk to the bathroom post surgery. The little things we took for granted pre-TPF. Hope you’re doing better each day.❤️💫🙏
Hi Sherri,
Thank you for this post. I had mine removed last Friday(Black Friday) and as of today I’m really questioning the decision to have it done. I did it mainly because I’d have to have it done eventually anyways if I got a knee replacement, which is pretty much inevitable at some point because of a Femur-Tib-Fib bunch of fractures in a motorcycle accident 20 years ago where I also lost an inch and a half off of my right leg. It was a nutty decision for me to have to make since I was having a lot of pain 5 months ago at the end of my femur and so the doctor suggested it back then, but after that I got out of a bad relationship and started exercising a lot and so it was in really good shape when I went in. I guess I figured I might as well get it over with and maybe it would be best to do it while I was feeling good and no real other complications. It’s 6 days out now and I have to say the pain is really bad. I, too, resumed full weight bearing immediately and it seemed to go well but I really ‘tweaked’ my knee last night and put it under a lot of strain. Anyhow, your blog here gave me some hope and helped make me put it back into perspective again. I’m glad that you’re glad you had yours removed. Thank you.
Kevin, I wish you all the best in your postop recovery. I still have those days too where I tweak my knee, it just takes some anti inflammatories, rest, and ice and I’m good to go.
Hi Sherri, my name is Laurie. I also broke my left tibia and had to have a plate and screws out in but they made my leg hurt worse I almost couldn’t walk any more because of the hardware and requested it to get removed as well six months later. My mistake was having it done in a surgical clinic instead of the hospital. At first my leg after the surgery felt great, but after the swelling went down it started to bother me once again. I noticed a lump at the incision area that was about 2 1/2 inches long by about 1/2 inch wide it seems as though something was left inside of me but nobody believed me. The surgeon really didn’t show me any x-rays I went to another surgeon when I asked to see the x-rays I saw something white outlined in the area where I knew something was but he said it was scar tissue which I know it doesn’t show on an x-ray. Once I was laying on my side in the bathroom and the doorbell rang so when I went to get up I applied pressure sideways and rolled over on my knee whatever it was moved and I’m actually able to continue to move it sometimes it moves by itself when I’m on my knees and I have to move it again but nobody seems to believe me. I’ve tried to find an attorney to represent me but they say it’s a conflict of interest either with my surgeon or with the healthcare system. I was wondering if you could tell me your surgeons name and what state you’re in. Thank you Laurie
Hi Laurie. I’m so sorry for your injury. I think we know our bodies best, and I believe you need to keep looking for a physician who will get to the bottom of what your issue is. I live in s. Florida and my surgeon is the head Orthopedic trauma at Broward Health.
Hello, My name is MaryBeth and I had a tibial plateau fracture, as a result of a auto accident last March, 2019. I am seriously considering having the hardware removed as it does hurt me so very much. However, I am fearful of the results. After reading your blog, I feel more confident to proceed. As you stated, it has been a long haul with this injury and knowing there are people like me out there helps so very much. You are an inspiration. I hope that you find the time to respond and need all the encouragement I can get.
Sincerely,
Mary Beth
Hi Marybeth. I’m so very sorry for your injury. If you think it’s bothering you, I absolutely encourage you to have a conversation with your surgeon about removal. Mine has made all the difference even though I only had one side removed. I’m over 3 years post injury now and doing well.
My leg and muscles are still making gains in terms of strength and how it feels. The more active I am, the better it feels. “Motion is lotion.”
I wish you all the best in whatever decision you make. Also, if you’re on Facebook I highly encourage you to join a closed group for people only with our injury called Tibial Plateau Fracture Recovery. That group literally helped me through my recovery. Although I’m not as active in it now (because I’m doing much better,) I still check in from time to time.
Thank you for sharing your story! I was looking up hardware removal and there is not a whole lot of information on it. I am planning on getting a plate, tibia rod/IM nail and 24 screws hopefully ALL out next month! They said I would be walking right out of surgery and your story gives me hope! I have pain where all the metal is in my leg and severe itching. No one wants to commit that the hardware is the problem, but I just know in my gut. Just hoping it’s all worth it after the risk of surgery!
I wish you all the best. I know my hardware removal surgery was worth the risk, for sure. Recovery was so much easier and less painful as well. Hope the same for you.
Hey Sherri. I just found your blog and it is wonderful! In a nutshell my story! I was on vacation in S. Florida and had a lady fall on me. I had a tibia plateau fracture with torn meniscus and had to have an ORIF. Now post operation in Feb. 2020. Just today Had my 6 pins and plates out! I worked out hard to get my leg back! So I am praying the hardware out will give me a better outcome hopefully! I am 63 and have 4 children grown and 2 grandchildren. I believe in healing and you have to put in the work. No pain. No gain!
Hi Dana, Wow what a way to spend a vacation! And yes, hard work it essential and ongoing with this injury. Wishing you all the best in your continued recovery.
Hi all
I am having both plates removed next week (both legs at the same time) after High Tibial Osteostomy’s on both. I am intrigued to see what I have to do with weight bearing after! Looking forward to the plate not rubbing so much!!
Hi Sherri. You are an inspiration. I suffered a humerous proximal fracture (left) and tibial plateu fracture (left) Jan 2020. A ski accident, my ski came off. I was in Italy at the time but made it home all strapped up like an oven ready chicken! as I didn’t want the operation in Italy. In Italy they wanted to operate on my shoulder and said I could walk on my knee! Thank goodness I made it home to let our wonderful NHS sort me out. I had an operation on my knee and they put the same hardware in that you had. My shoulder repaired itself by using a sling. Heaven only knows what they wanted to do in Italy! So, I am now 1 year on. Physio has been over the phone due to Covid. I was walking after 6 to 8 weeks unaided. Not very far. I now walk 2 miles in 40 mins taking in 4 up hills to help built my leg muscles, I do get a fair wiggle on! My Surgeon has agreed to remove the plate and screws, don’t know when due to Covid but cannot wait. It is extremely sensitive around the op area and I cannot kneel at all on that leg. I do many stretches especially quadracept muscles as this helps open the knee. I do believe in listen to your body but also push a little, and I genuinely hope one day I will be back to where I was before the accident. I want to ski again and also go for a little jog, and Ill be happy. Oh Im 66 years old. Love Florida to bits, have many friends in St Pete and cannot wait to see them as its been 2 years since our last visit. Thank you for all your shares and inspiration and if I can help in recovery I will. Just need to get this plate out of my knee. Best wishes Pam
Hey good evening miss Sherri ,my name is Mariejanne and I also am recovering from a open reduction internal fixation lift tibial plateau. I had an accident at the end of May which I broke my tibia so I ended up doing surgery .I wanted to ask you the first year with that metal on, how did you feel when you were walking or sitting day-to-day activity ?
Hi Michi. The first year I felt very stiff and awkward. It takes a really long time to get used to the metal. I still half my hardware in on my medial side but it doesn’t bother me. I still feel stiff as soon as I get out of bed in the morning, but I feel it on my good leg too. So could be a combination of my accident and getting older.
I’ve adjusted to my leg for the most part. It was all I could focus on the the first couple of years, then as I continued to heal and my leg grew stronger, it wasn’t as bad. My brain is used to one leg feeling different if that makes sense.
I’m sorry you had to join this club and wish you all the best in your recovery.
I am a 60 yo active grandma with 5 young grands to have fun with. It is 13 mos past my TP shatter which needed 7 screws and a plate to repair. I am scheduled for hardware removal in 10 days. I am hopeful that it turns out as well as yours. I am supposed to travel 2 hours away to visit friends and go to a Christmas concert 1 week past removal. Is that realistic if all goes well? How long before you could drive after removal?
Yep, unfortunately I joined the club also.. The emotional roller coaster is very real. But hey things could have been worse. 7 months in, and still stiff, and stairs still scare me, but not from pain, but that’s how the accident occurred. I will not let this awkward feeling hardware defeat me!
Hello Sherri, I am in Australia and have just come across your blogs. I had a shocking Tibial Plateau fracture( shattered it) in my left leg and was literally 4 months bedridden. Due to the surgical wound not healing I wasnt allowed to learn to walk for much longer than normal. I have had a few issues but have picked up walking around my house unaided but use a cane or walker when out and about. I saw the surgeon last fortnight and he wants to remove the large plate like yours and the 10 screws, leaving the back plate in. He says it is causing the swelling in my leg and possibly inhibiting blood flow to the wound, which incidently still not healed 6 months post op. The area where part of the brace put pressure on the incision caused it to inflame and I ended up with a black scab(eschar) pressure sore. The rest of the wound healed no problem and it never got infected. I dont have excessive pain but I do have pain while walking and doing exercises and I do get nerve pain. I am 72 reasonably fit but am very scared of this hardware removal. Reading all your updates make me feel a bit more game but I do have anxiety over this as he wants the plate out in couple of weeks so I’ll be about 6.5 months post op. How are you doing now? Its been a long time since your HR. Katy
Hi Katy. I’m so sorry for your injury. I wish you all the best with your HWR and recovery. I’m doing really well. I had my removal 6 years ago and with each passing year I’ve continued to improve. Sometimes my injury reminds me that I still have it if I move a certain way but it resolves quickly and for that I am truly grateful. I wish the same for you.