Quote:
Originally Posted by rwest
How did it come out?
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Same way it went in, but backwards.
Two incisions: Larger one near the hip where the rod was slid down the inside of the bone, smooshing the marrow out of its way. A smaller incision just above the knee where the two smaller screws held the rod below the break- A spiral fracture turned the middle of the femur into a bunch of toothpick bone fragments.
A year later, the same incisions were opened back up to back out the screws. The top of the rod is internally threaded, so a T-handle could be screwed into the top to remove the rod. Wasn't coming out easily, so a rubber mallet on the T-handle helped persuade it.
I was told some people are able to walk immediately after the spinal block wears off. I tried, but the leg collapsed as soon as I tried to put any weight on it. Used crutches for a day or two, and was quickly back to normal.