RESUMEN
Guidelines on implant removal are not clear and the routine removal of orthopaedic fixation devices after fracture healing remains an issue of debate. Few studies have evaluated long-term outcomes of patients with orthopaedic implants left in-situ and this lake of data has made the orthopaedic surgeons decide on implant removal differently. In order to add new data in this field, we designed this study. In a follow up setting, patients with Tibial shaft fractures who had received orthopaedic implants in year 2008 and earlier were clinically examined for any surgical complications such as pain or limited range of motion. Quality of life of each patient was evaluated using short form 36. The total SF-36 score of the patients was not statistically different from the normal population [P >0.05]. 21 patients [31.2%] reported limited range of motion in ankle and 11 [14.9%] complained of weakness in the affected limb. Clinically, 68.9% of patients had full range of motion in ankle and 70.3% had no tenderness in the affected limb. As most patients were clinically normal and had quality of life scores comparable to the normal population, removal of implants is not advisable in all patients