Background: Hardware removals are among the most commonly performed surgical procedures worldwide.\nCurrent literature offers little data concerning postoperative patient satisfaction. The purpose of our study was to\nevaluate the patients� point of view on implant removal.\nMethods: We surveyed patients of a German level one trauma center, who underwent hardware removal in 2009\nand 2010, with regard to their personal experiences on implant removal. Exclusively, data obtained out of the\nsurvey were analyzed.\nResults: In 332 patients surveyed, most hardware removals were performed at the ankle joint (21 %) followed by\nthe wrist (15 %). The most frequent indication was a doctor�s recommendation (68 %), followed by pain (31 %) and\nimpaired function (31 %). Patient reported complication rate of implant removal was 10 %. Importantly, after\nimplant removal because of pain or impaired function patients reported an improvement in function (72 %) as well\nas decreased pain (96 %). 96 % of all responding patients and 66 % of the patients who suffered from subsequent\ncomplications would opt for surgical implant removal again.\nConclusion: In summary, despite the challenging and frequently troublesome nature of surgical hardware removal\nour data contradicts the widely held view that implant removal is often without a positive effect on the patients.\nThese findings may influence the surgeons� attitude towards implant removal and their day-to-day routine in\npatient counseling.
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