why aren’t metal plates removed when the bones are fully healed?

Question

why aren’t metal plates removed when the bones are fully healed?

In: 3

Answer 1

I haven’t seen it said, yet, but the bones and tissues heal *with* the hardware. Meaning that the new tissue grows into place and integrates into whatever microscopic pits and pock marks are in the hardware, or in some cases, completely around it. Pulling it out again may cause more harm then good and the tissues would have to be re-traumatized and coaxed to grow into the holes left from the removal of the hardware. Basically it’s a violation of “First, Do No Harm”