Abstract: Purpose: A significant portion of orthopedic elective procedures involve implant removal. The clinical outcomes of removing metal implants following fracture healing are uncertain, and the topic of whether or not to do so is one that is discussed globally. As a result, the present study was designed to analyse the clinical, radiological, functional outcome and complication rates in patients undergoing implant removal surgery in department of Orthopaedics, Government Medical College Kozhikode and to assess the results of improvement of symptoms for which implant removal was indicated.
Methodology: This was a prospective cohort study conducted on 60 patients who reported to department of Orthopaedics, Government Medical College Kozhikode and were indicated for implant removal surgery.
Results: The population's mean age was found to be 30.33 years, with men (67%) making up the majority. 88.3% of removed implants were plates. Patient's request (73.3 %) was the primary reason for implant removal. In cases when implant removal was indicated, 75% of patients experienced no problems following surgery. Partial implant removal accounted for the majority of complications (13.3%) after implant removal surgery. None of the instances in the population under study exhibited full healing of the screw holes even after three months. Merely 13.3% of the cases exhibited near healing (hazy) screw whole healing.
Conclusion: Unwanted complications may arise after surgery in circumstances where implant removal is not recommended. In indicated cases of implant removal, a good post-operative outcome is seen. Care should be taken to prevent refractures even after three months of implant removal, as screw holes were observed to not have healed when evaluated radiologically at that time. Screw whole repair occurs more quickly in younger age groups.
