Injuries & Sport

Plates, screws and wires in children: follow-up and possible problems

Fixation devices stabilise bone while it heals. How they are monitored and which symptoms need reassessment.

Updated: October 2026·Medically reviewed by Dr. Daniele Priano

Plates, screws, wires and nails help stabilise a fracture while the bone heals. Having an orthopaedic implant is not itself a disease: this page covers follow-up and problems that can arise during that process.

Follow-up checks the bone as well as the metal

Scheduled appointments and X-rays assess healing, alignment and implant position. The wound, movement, any pain and remaining growth also matter. Feeling a plate beneath the skin does not, by itself, establish a complication.

Discomfort near an implant may reflect tissue irritation, but pain should not automatically be blamed on the metal. New symptoms need a cause identified before deciding whether removal is appropriate. A new injury also requires assessment of both bone and implant.

Exposed wires and internal implants follow different pathways

For wires passing through the skin, follow the instructions on dressings, protection and reviews. Do not push, pull or adjust them at home. Internal plates and screws require different planning: the timetable for exposed wires does not apply to them.

Considering removal after healing

Not all specialists or hospitals routinely offer removal. If the child is young, has discomfort or the family would like to discuss removal, a consultation can assess the options in light of bone healing, location, implant type and remaining growth. The decision remains individual. Removal may be planned even without complications, but is not risk-free and does not guarantee relief of every pain. The implant removal page describes my approach, preparation and protection of the bone afterwards. Guided-growth plates follow the separate hemiepiphysiodesis pathway.

Assessment and treatment

When to seek evaluation

  • Increasing local discomfort or activity limitations
  • Increasing redness, wound drainage, fever or an implant becoming exposed: contact the treating team promptly
  • New pain after injury or suspected implant movement
  • Pale or cold digits, new loss of sensation or very severe pain needs urgent assessment

What is evaluated

  • Implant type, reason for surgery and operation records
  • Bone healing and implant position on X-rays
  • Wound, skin, movement and whether symptoms relate to the implant

Treatment options

  • Scheduled follow-up when recovery is progressing normally
  • Specific assessment for suspected infection, migration or irritation
  • Individual decisions on retention or removal, with written recovery instructions
🏥

When Surgery Is Needed

See the implant removal surgery page for preparation, risks and recovery.
🔗View surgical options for this condition →

Important Notice: The information on this page is for educational and informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Each clinical case is unique: the appropriate treatment is determined during the specialist consultation, based on a thorough clinical examination and, where necessary, diagnostic imaging. For any doubts or concerns, please consult a specialist.