Vet Med - Czech, 2023, 68(7):259-270 | DOI: 10.17221/52/2023-VETMED

Indications for the removal of implants after fracture healing: A comparison between human and veterinary medicineReview

M Candela Andrade1, I De Rus Aznar2, M Brunnberg3, P Slunsky4
1 Department of Human Anatomy, Health and Medical University Potsdam, Potsdam, Brandenburg, Germany
2 Orthopaedic Surgery and Traumatology, University Hospital of Torrejón, Madrid, Spain; Shoulder and Knee Surgery Department, Olympia Quironsalud Hospital, Madrid, Spain
3 Surgical Department, Small Animal Clinic, Tierarztpraxis Sörensen, Berlin, Germany
4 Surgical Department, Small Animal Hospital, Anicura Kleintierspezialisten Augsburg, Augsburg, Bavaria, Germany

Indications for implant removal after fracture healing are still under debate in both human and veterinary medicine. Although hardware removal is a common procedure, it should not be undertaken lightly. Intra and post-operative complications are common and a thorough evaluation of the risks and benefits should be performed. This review aimed to collect and summarise published data on the indications for implant removal in small animals, compare the collected data with human and equine medicine, and investigate the existence of guidelines for this purpose. There is no international consensual agreement for implant removal after fracture healing, neither in small animals nor in human orthopaedics. Decision-making processes are still controversial in some scenarios, thus clear evidence-based protocols for implant removal are needed.

Keywords: cat; dog; explants; hardware removal; horse; metal implant

Received: May 10, 2023; Revised: July 5, 2023; Accepted: July 6, 2023; Prepublished online: July 27, 2023; Published: July 29, 2023  Show citation

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Candela Andrade M, De Rus Aznar I, Brunnberg M, Slunsky P. Indications for the removal of implants after fracture healing: A comparison between human and veterinary medicine. Vet Med - Czech. 2023;68(7):259-270. doi: 10.17221/52/2023-VETMED.
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