Patient's question:
My child accidentally fell while playing soccer with his classmates at school and broke his leg. He went to the hospital for a thorough examination, and the doctor said he had a fracture that required steel pins to be installed for fixation. There is some concern, so I would like to consult with you. How long does it take to remove steel pins for a child's fracture?Doctor's answer:
Children's fracture healing and scar formation are slower compared to general fractures after reduction and fixation. It takes about three months for the fracture to heal almost completely at this point, and it is then considered to remove the steel pins. If steel pins are removed too early, it may lead to the fracture re-dislocating or other issues. The fracture line should basically disappear, and the fracture should be fully healed and scarred before removing the steel pins.After a fracture, the time to remove steel pins depends on the healing condition of the fracture and should be determined comprehensively. It is still recommended to follow-up with X-rays every three months after surgery to dynamically observe the growth of callus. For adults, in most cases, it is not advisable to remove steel pins until at least a year has passed, as most adult fractures require at least nearly a year to heal completely.