Outcomes of Hardware Removal Surgery for Children

Area of Science:

• Orthopedic Surgery
• Pediatric Orthopedics
• Surgical Outcomes

Background:

• Hardware removal is a frequent orthopedic procedure in the United States.
• Deep hardware removal in pediatric patients requires specific outcome evaluation.
• Previous literature on deep hardware removal outcomes in children is limited.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the outcomes of deep hardware removal in patients younger than 18 years.
• To identify factors influencing complication rates in pediatric hardware removal.
• To establish the safety and efficacy of deep hardware removal in children.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective review of 227 deep hardware removal procedures in patients under 18 years old.
• Data collected from 2007 to 2017, including patient demographics, surgical details, and complications.
• Analysis of hardware locations, indications for removal, and surgeon experience level.

Main Results:

• A total of 227 procedures were analyzed with a mean follow-up of 25 months.
• The most common hardware locations were femur (85), humerus (49), and tibia (46).
• Only 3 complications were reported, with outcomes described as excellent.

Conclusions:

• Deep hardware removal in children is a safe and effective procedure.
• Excellent outcomes can be achieved with a low complication rate.
• Involving senior residents as primary surgeons may minimize complications in teaching hospital settings.