Got a Rod in My Leg; What Happens if I Break it Again?

[rwest]

Hello,

I took a spill on the ice while riding my bicycle to work in Feb., cleat was frozen to pedal and my tib/fib broke before the ice did! They put a rod in my tibia, basically the whole length of the bone. So my somewhat queasy question is: if for some reason I did something similar to break it again, what happens now that the rod is there? Does the bone still break, does it move the damage to knee or ankle, or something else?

Thanks,
Rutager

[911SauCy]

Now when it breaks in a strange position, it will stay that way!

[widgeon13]

Be careful. I hope you never have to experience that situation.

[Zeke]

I didn't think they were supposed to leave rods in arms and legs.

[tcar]

Originally Posted by Zeke

I didn't think they were supposed to leave rods in arms and legs.

They do.

No way, or reason, to remove them.

Friend has one (skiing) that will be there always.

[greglepore]

plate in r arm, rebroke it last fall, broke at stress riser at end of plate 1. Nasty surgery to repair, 2 plates now, major hardware awareness.

[Flieger]

Originally Posted by greglepore

plate in r arm, rebroke it last fall, broke at stress riser at end of plate 1. Nasty surgery to repair, 2 plates now, major hardware awareness.

Next step:

[RWebb]

yes they do - termed "internal fixation"

this is really a question for your orthopod

but... if the rod is inside - in the marrow and there is a break it may not be a real fun experience

if the bone has grown back adequately as your orthopod would have explained to you by sharing the x-rays after surgery 2 or 3 times, then it should all be as strong as before

what did he tell you?

[Grog]

You are Gumby!

[rwest]

I never thought to ask him about a re-break. I did see the x-rays and he told me everything had healed fine. My break occurred just above the ankle and the rod is pinned twice in that area and once at the top; the fibula broke at the top where it curves and it just was left to heal on it's own. I'm almost 5 months out and am walking pretty close to normal and have been riding the bike to work one extra day each week, so next week the fifth week, I'll ride everyday.

On days when it would be hurting on the ride home, I did some cold therapy- large M&M blizzard! Figured the cold would get there somehow- self medicating is great!

Thanks guys,
Rutager

[RWebb]

might be worth it to ask - if you do a visit in some year where you've met your deductible, then it will cost only your copay - maybe $25

[rwest]

I have high deductible insurance with no co-pay once I meet the deductible, which I have- so the rest of the year I am covered 100 percent- I don't even bother to look both ways when I cross the street, seeing that everything is covered!!!

I'm pretty sure I could call and ask without being charged anyways, I'm just one of those people that doesn't want to bother my doctor- but you guys I'll bug all day.

Thanks,
Rutager

[Dantilla]

This chunk of stainless steel was inside my right femur for a year.



Then, out it came......

[rwest]

How did it come out?

[Nathans_Dad]

The term rod is a little misleading, it's really more of a nail.

Anyhow, I've seen one fractured rod in my career so it's unlikely to break but the bone can still fracture around it. Either way the second surgery is much more difficult.

[Dantilla]

Originally Posted by rwest

How did it come out?

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.

[911SauCy]

Originally Posted by Dantilla

This chunk of stainless steel was inside my right femur for a year.



Then, out it came......

FUCHIN AWESOME

[pavulon]

Not an ortho but best advice would be: "avoid that".

would think that fixing it again would be driven by where the new fracture was and how powdered that fracture might be. Google tibial external fixator images for some avoidance motivation.

[john70t]

Might want to look into a bone-density test.
Calcium can be sourced from other sources than dairy, such as brocelli etc.

Pills digested in the GI may or may work, depending on absorbtion and composition.

[nynor]

i've got one in my tibia. if it breaks again, bad things happen. the orthopedist told me that they can deal with it, if that time comes.

the reasoning i was given for leaving the rod in, my case specifically, was that it had been in there a few years, maybe five, and it wasn't causing problems. the risk of introducing an infection into the bone by opening things up and pulling the rod out was greater than the risk of leaving it in.

also, i think the rod on my tibia is titanium. not positive, but i seem to recall asking. i KNOW the screws are titanium as they pulled the one at the ankle and i still have it.