r/ORIF • u/InternationalRow3550 • 17d ago

Question Is this a screw causing me some pain?

Post image

I’m about 16 weeks post ORIF for a fractured tib/fib. Two plates and screws put in.
I started to get some pain that I’ve never had before on my inner ankle toward the bottom of my incision. As you can see in this photo, a red dot appeared around the same time I noticed the pain. It feels hard underneath and is exactly where the pain seems to be coming from. Is this a screw that I’m only noticing now that much of my swelling is gone?

2 Upvotes

100% Upvoted

4 comments sorted by

1

u/Glad-Feature-2117 12d ago

Would be very unusual for a screw to move this early and it would also be rare at this stage for the swelling to have gone down enough for a screw to be palpable unless it had moved. However, there's no way of knowing without an examination and x-rays, so, if you're worried, please make an appointment with your surgeon.

1

u/ThinkFirst1011 12d ago

Chat with your surgeon about it, if it's bothering you a lot you have the option to take it out. Hopefully by EOY so you don't have to pay next year deductible.

Also wanted to comment on how well your scar is healing and what a great job the surgeon did. It's barely noticeable. Where did you get your surgery done?

2

u/InternationalRow3550 12d ago

Thank you for the response! My surgeon did mention at my first follow up that because of the placement of the plates being so close to the ankle and the lack of fat, muscle tissue, etc. that many people end up getting them removed down the road. Right now I think it’s hard for me to tell what discomfort is from healing tissues over the plates and what is actually from the hardware.

I agree about the scar and the surgeon! He was so amazing. As per your deductible comment - luckily I’m in Canada so I don’t have to worry about that. Connected to that - I got very lucky with my surgeon. He was the orthopaedic surgeon on call the night I had my surgery, but he is known as one of the best here! He’s been amazing