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Why Does the Doctor Want to Put Screws in My Foot
In a great number of bone procedures of the
foot and ankle, your doctor many tell you that they are going to fix
the bone with screws to hold them in place. Screws are used to secure
two bones or bone fragments together to allow for compression of the
bone to promote healing. This not much different than when you screw
two pieces of wood together to hold them in place. This compression of
bone helps to secure the bone together to produce what is known as
primary bone healing. This type of healing is different from secondary
bone healing, in that secondary bone healing producers a bone callus
while primary bone healing does not. Complete bone healing typically
takes 6 to 8 weeks, but may take longer in some cases. Screws also
allow for immediate weight bearing in some procedures after surgery or
for movement of your foot and ankle to regain strength in your muscles,
particularly after a fracture. These screws are
made out of either a high-grade surgical stainless steel or titanium.
Screws used in the foot range in sizes from 1.5 mm to 7.3 mm in size
and have many different applications from fixation of fractures to
arthrodesis procedures. One of the most commonly asked questions is Will the screws set off metal detectors?
The answer is no. These screws are non-magnetic and will not set off
metal detectors. Additionally, you with not pick up radio waves. These
statements are myths and have no relevance. In having these types of
screws in your foot, you can also have a MRI test with complete safety. Another
commonly asked question is whether the screws need to be removed. The
answer is maybe. Most screws do not need to be removed unless the
screws are have come loose, are causing irritation or you want them
removed. In the majority of cases, the screw does not need to be
removed and can stay in your foot or ankle forever. There
is only one thing that you need to inform your doctor about if they
state they are going to use screws. If you have an allergy to jewelry
or metal, particularly silver or costume jewelry, you need to inform
your doctor about this before surgery. This is very important because
some screws contain nickel, which is a common component of costume and
some silver jewelry. If you have a true allergy to nickel or stainless
steel, an allergy patch test may need to be performed to determine if
you are allergic to titanium.
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