So I'm healing well....

[sirchris]

Recently I had a follow up with my surgeon and my leg looks great. During the few minutes of my visit the doctor was telling me that he is of the belief to leave the rod in me for life, but a lot of his colleagues take the rod out of people who are young and active. The reason for removing the rod in young active people is the risk of breaking

Comments

[sirchris]

I think if the bone breaks and the metal bends then they will have a really hard time getting the rod out to put a new one in.

Or if the metal doesn't bend the force has to go somewhere so the femur my shatter instead of break.

[krf171]

I would venture to guess that the major reason for that is this: if you were to break it again, the rod might bend and prevent immediate realignment of the bone (traction) - That causes two problems. One, it's extremely painful, as you likely already know, when it's not aligned. Secondly, femur fractures often result in occlusion of the femoral arteries or great saphenous veins. Disruption in either of these major vessels can cause extreme hemmorhage, or if not that, loss of the leg. If the rod's in there, traction can't be initiated quickly. The final thing is that the rod is probably stronger than the femur itself - which, in an accident, would break and protect the structures above that such as the pelvis. The rod could be pushed up and cause additional damage.

All in all, bad things happen.

[jillaint]

I think your logic of risk is not quite right.

I don't think it is right that having the average risk of driving (compare with the rest of the people) makes it less of a crucial factor for you. You have to look at the possibility. You only ski - say 10 to 15 days a year, but drive every single day. Well maybe not while you are skiing:). That's why you never had a accident in your 20 something years of skiing (as far as I know), but you did have car and motorcycle accidents in less than 10 years of experience.

Well, I think it is never wrong to be over protective at YOUR AGE. btw, the armours from Dainese really remind me of the robot in Star Wars;) could be amusing ...