Asymptomatic implant removal after fracture union based on request to remove. Is it worth considering, an Indian perspective?

Objectives Hardware removals are among the commonly performed surgical procedures in orthopaedics, but they sometimes prove quite difficult. The purpose of our study was to evaluate the risk, benefit and drawbacks of asymptomatic implant removal based on patients’ desire. Materials and Methods A total of 105 patients who had been previously treated for a fracture and voluntarily wanted its removal and who did not report clinical indications or occasional regional pain were included in the study cohort. Results For the 105 patients surveyed, implant removals were performed in the leg (41 patients; 39%), the ankle joint (32 patients; 30%), the thigh (19 patients; 18%) and the forearm and the wrist (15 patients; 14%). The most common indication for removal was patients’ request in 66 (62.8%) cases. Altogether, 98 (93%) patients were satisfied because of the fulfilment of their desire, despite the instances of complication being frequent (32.8%). Conclusion In our study, we reported a surprisingly high rate of satisfied patients after surgical hardware removal once their requests for hardware removal were taken into consideration. However, it was closely associated with multiple risks. Therefore, judicious selection of actually eligible patients is highly recommended instead of the unqualified fulfilment of their requests for removal.