Complete information about fracture pen surgery

A fracture or fracture is a serious condition that can cause disruption of the movement system for sufferers. To treat fractures, one of the most common ways is to place a pin in the bone area through a surgical procedure. So, what are the provisions of the procedure for installing this pen? The following is complete information about bone pins that you need to know.

What are bone pins?

A pen is an implant made of metal, generally stainless steel or titanium, which can be durable and strong. This implant is a support tool commonly used to treat fractures or fractures, in addition to casts or splints.

The function of a pen in fracture treatment is to ensure that the broken bone is in the proper position of the bone structure, while the bone grows and reconnects or is healing. This pen is placed in the area of the bone that is broken through a surgical procedure and can stay in the body for a long time or even forever.

However, under certain conditions, the pen for this fracture can also be removed or replaced. If it is to be replaced at a time, the implant can also be made of other materials, such as cobalt or chrome. Regardless of the material used, implants are made and designed specifically for the body, so they rarely cause allergic reactions.

Reporting from Ortho Info, the insertion of a pen with this surgical procedure allows a shorter hospital stay, bone function can return to normal earlier, and reduces the possibility of fracture complications, such as nonunion (improper healing) and malunion (healing in an improper position). right).

What are the common forms of pens used to treat fractures?

Implants or pens for fractures come in many forms. The most common forms of implants used to treat fractures are plates, screws, nails or rods, and cables. The shape of the implant or pen to use depends on the type of fracture and the specific location.

For example, nails or rods are usually used in long bones, such as leg fractures, especially the thighbone (femur) and shin bone (tibia). While the form of cables is often used to hold pieces of bone that are too small, such as wrist fractures and leg fractures.

In addition, there are also screw and rod-shaped implants that are placed outside the body (externally). However, unlike internal, external implant placement is generally only temporary.

Anyone who needs pen insertion surgery for fractures?

Not all fracture sufferers need to insert a pen in the fracture. Usually, this procedure is performed in certain fractures, such as:

A complicated fracture, which is difficult to align with a cast or splint.
Periodic X-rays or CT scans show that the bone has not healed after three months or more since the injury.
For fracture sufferers who do not want long-term treatment.

While external implants are usually performed for fractures that are more severe, complex, and unstable, such as bone that has broken into more than one piece. This condition generally occurs in a type of hip fracture, where internal insertion of pins is difficult. In addition, external pen insertion surgery is often performed on patients with open fractures.

Conversely, pen insertion surgery is not recommended in certain fracture conditions, such as damage to the soft tissue around the fracture or if there is an infection in the bone. In this condition, insertion of pens or other medical procedures will only be performed after the infection or tissue damage has healed.

This treatment procedure is often not chosen because of the side effects and complications it may cause, such as pain, swelling, bruising, and infection in the area of the operation, compartment syndrome, or deep vein thrombosis (DVT / deep vein thrombosis). Therefore, always consult with your doctor about the right type of treatment, including the benefits and risks, according to your condition.

What are the preparations for fracture surgery?

There are a number of things that you and your doctor need to prepare before undergoing fracture pen insertion surgery. Doctors and nurses will generally inform you of this prior to the operation. However, as an illustration, here are some preparations before undergoing common fracture surgery:

Not eating and drinking for 6 hours before the operation is done to avoid the effects of anesthesia or anesthesia, especially general anesthesia.
Tell your doctor about any medications you are taking. Your doctor may ask you to stop taking these drugs one week before the surgical procedure is performed.
You may need to wear compression stockings to help prevent blood clots in your leg veins.
You may also need injections of anti-clotting medication to help prevent DVT or deep vein thrombosis.
Doctors may prescribe antibiotics before surgery to help reduce the risk of infection.
Installation of traction to align the broken bones before surgery.

How is the fracture insert procedure performed?

Pen insertion surgery for fractures is generally performed by a surgeon and can last several hours. This procedure begins with giving anesthesia or anesthetic, either local or general, depending on the condition of each patient.

If you are under general anesthesia, you will fall asleep during the operation. However, if you only receive local anesthesia, you will only experience numbness in the area of the bone to be operated on.

After anesthesia, the doctor will make an incision in the skin area, over the site of the broken bone. Then, the doctor will move, align, and place the bone fragments into the correct position. In these fractures, the doctor will insert a pen to hold the broken part.

The shape of a pen used can be a plate, screw, nail, rod, cable, or a combination thereof. But generally, metal rods or nails will be placed inside your bone, while metal screws and plates stick to the surface of the bone. The cables are usually used with screws and plates.

After the pen is in place, the incision will be closed with stitches or staples and covered with a bandage. Finally, the area of the operation will be covered and covered with a cast or splint during the healing period.

For external pen installation, the procedure is the same. It's just that after inserting a pin inside the broken bone, a metal rod or frame will be attached to the outside of your body to stabilize the bone and make sure it heals in the right position.

What happens after the fracture pen insertion surgery?

After undergoing pen-inserting surgery for fractures, you will generally need to be hospitalized to relieve the effects of the anesthesia. During this hospitalization, you may receive pain medication if needed.

The length of stay required depends on the individual patient's condition, including whether you have any other injuries that require treatment. After you are allowed to go home, doctors and nurses will usually provide information about caring for the area of the surgery at home and what to do and what not to do.

Recovery process

The postoperative fracture recovery process varies from patient to patient. For minor fractures, it may take you 3-6 weeks to heal. However, in cases of severe fractures and in areas of long bones, it generally takes months for normal activities to return.

During this recovery period, you may need physiotherapy to help strengthen your muscles, restore bones, and reduce stiffness. During this physiotherapy, the physiotherapist may ask you to follow an exercise program or exercise that helps you train your movement.

Also, don't forget to always eat foods that are good for fractures to speed up the recovery period. Also avoid things that slow down the recovery period for fracture surgery, such as consuming alcohol, smoking, driving, operating machinery, and so on.

Does the pen in the bone need to be removed?

In fact, how long the pen is placed in the fractured bone depends on the patient's condition and the implant itself. If it is still in good condition and there are no complaints whatsoever, the pen can be in place for a very long time or even forever.

In other words, a bone pin that has been in place for a long time does not always have to be removed, even if the broken bone is properly connected. The reason is, this metal implant has indeed been designed in such a way that it can last a long time in the bone.

However, of course not everyone can immediately maintain the use of pens in his body. There are several conditions where it is recommended that you remove a pen that is embedded in the bone, such as:

The pain usually occurs due to infection or an allergy to the implant.
Nerve damage occurs due to scarring.
The bone is not healing as expected and needs to be replaced with another form of implant.
Incomplete bone healing (nonunion).
The implant is damaged or fractured due to continuous pressure or is not inserted properly.
Damaging or pressing on the joints.
Frequent sports activities that risk putting heavy loads on bones that have been fractured (weight-bearing exercise).

Is it dangerous if the pen is not removed?

You basically don't need to worry because generally using the pen is fairly safe and doesn't risk causing any problems. In fact, do not rule out, you will actually face a series of new problems due to forced bone removal surgery.

What are the risks of pen lifting surgery? The function of the bones in the area where the pins were previously inserted may weaken as the body has become accustomed to the presence of the fracture pins. In addition, infection, nerve damage, the risk of anesthesia, and the possibility of a broken bone may appear after the pen removal procedure.

Other risks that can also occur, namely damage to the muscle structure, skin, and other tissues around the bone area where the pen was planted.

So what are the risks if the pen is not removed from the body? In some cases, the metal components in the pen can trigger irritation in the tissue around the bone. This condition can cause bursitis, tendonitis, or other complications. In addition, if an infection occurs, a bone pen that is not removed can damage the bone and surrounding soft tissue.

Surgical procedures to remove fracture pins

The surgical procedure for removing a bone pen is not much different from when the insertion is performed. Prior to surgery, the doctor will generally give the patient anesthesia or anesthesia.

Next, the surgeon will remove the pen through the same incision when the pen was first inserted. This pen is sometimes difficult to find and remove because it is often covered in scar tissue or bone. Therefore, the doctor will usually make a larger incision to remove it.

If an infection occurs, the surgeon will first remove the infected tissue with a debridement procedure. The old implant will be removed, then the new implant will be replaced if the bone has not healed properly. Reinforcement is also generally done if the patient has a previous allergic reaction to the pen. But of course, this pen replacement uses a different and safe metal material.

After undergoing pen removal surgery, you will also enter a recovery period, which is generally the same as after the pen removal operation. During this recovery period, you may not be allowed to lift the weights first. However, you should still consult with your doctor about this recovery period.