Fracture healing

Summary

In a review of five case series and two retrospective cohort studies, nearly 50% of patients had their hardware removed without a clear indication. Approximately half of patients who underwent hardware removal for pain experienced pain relief, although some patients did experience increased pain after removal. It is unclear whether the indication for hardware removal affects resultant pain relief. Improved function was also observed in a few select studies. While generally safe, the available evidence does not support a general recommendation for hardware removal after fracture healing. Well-designed comparative studies are needed to determine whether there is any benefit of hardware removal for patients, particularly those without a clear indication for removal.