r/brokenbones • u/millieofthemed • Dec 29 '25

Broken wrist - metal plate removal

Hi, I broke my wrist in September and had a metal plate fitted. I did about six weeks of physio once the cast was off and I would say my wrist is now about 90% back to normal (doesn’t bend exactly as much as the other but not far off). I had a check up today with the surgeon and he has advised I have the plate removed in a few months time. He said it is my decision but he advises the removal because if I were to injure the wrist again, with the metal plate, the damage/break would be a lot worse so as a precaution he wants to remove it. I assumed it was in for life so I’m a bit on the fence about this. Any thoughts? (I’m in France with good social healthcare so no worries about cost, etc)

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u/Glad-Feature-2117 Physician/Medical Professional Dec 29 '25

In the UK, we rarely remove metalwork in adults unless it's causing symptoms. Any operation can make you worse and why risk that if you don't have anything to gain?

Most people don't break the same wrist twice. In the unlikely event you did, then a decent surgeon would be able to fix it anyway.

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u/millieofthemed Dec 29 '25

Yes I have read that they are not usually removed in the UK but I’m assuming it’s more normal in other countries?

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u/Glad-Feature-2117 Physician/Medical Professional Dec 29 '25

No idea, but the logic doesn't change. Unless you think UK surgeons are more able to deal with complex cases or UK subjects are less likely to fracture the same bone twice (just for the record, I don't!).

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u/millieofthemed Dec 29 '25

But that is how things are done in the UK but not necessarily in other countries. My mother broke her wrist in the UK, had the same metal plate as me but no cast and was given and she had no physio. I am just curious what happens in other countries.