OT Medical Question

John B. · Dec 31, 2012

I know this is way off topic but I'm hoping some of you may have some medical knowledge or experience.
I had foot surgery 3 months ago and had three screws put in. I then have an ultra sound bone healing electronic device/machine to use on the areas to help heal the bones where the screws are holding them together. Well I had an x-ray today and it shows one of the screws have broken. My question is, can this ultra-sound device maybe contribute to the fracture of this metal screw? Since they use ultra sound to break up kidney stones and such is why I ask this question. Thanks for all your information you may contribute.

MarkB_MI · Dec 31, 2012

Well, this is my opinion as an engineer, not as a doctor. And it's worth about what you paid for it. Short answer: no.

Stainless steel is much more malleable than a kidney stone. It will break only after it has either work-hardened or its tensile strength has been exceeded. I can't see how low-frequency sound waves can do either one. And a lithotripter (the machine used to crush kidney stones) uses high energy waves focused on the stone; I doubt the device used on you is nearly as powerful.

Janicholson · Dec 31, 2012

Assuming titanium, or surgical SS, the ultrasound would need to be beyond explode your foot to break a screw. I use ultra sound machining processes with abrasive slurry, and even with 200 watts of applied energy, it is slow. There are two (opinion)factors that apply: one is an over tightened screw that snapped off with little added pressure (like over tightened lug bolts), the second is stress applied to the screw in a flexing condition that fatigued the material and fractured it. Jim

jackinok · Dec 31, 2012

i have never heard of using a ultrasound for healing bones. are you sure its not a electrical stimulation machine for the muscles in yor foot? they use that often if your going to not be able to use a limb for some time. i crushed and nearly cut off a hand once,after all the surgery etc i used one on it. I honestly doubt you could break a stainless screw with a ultra sound machine.my guess is if you turned the frequency/intensity up high enough to most likely the bones would shatter first.probably,if you havent been on your feet the screw broke on installation. My Guess anyway.i dont see the third screw but the two look to be intact to me.the ultrasound they use to break up kidney stones is a highly focused machine,its not probaly something you would have.

Anonymous-0 · Dec 31, 2012

Kind of a cool picture I 1st though you stepped on a couple screws I have 6 screws and some steel holding my'right heel together

retired farmer · Dec 31, 2012

Don't think those medical screws are all that tough. Kid I worked with years ago broke his ankle and they put a couple of screws in it. Went to take them out, one came out easy, the other they stripped the slot out in the head and I guess they had to use a pair of pliers to finish screwing it out, according to what he told me.

Dave Sherburne NY · Dec 31, 2012

They look like straight slot screws You should tell your doctor about the new Torx head. They're just a little farther down the home depot aisle from where he found those.

LA in WI · Dec 31, 2012

John,

Why on earth would you be asking non-medical people and on this website?

Talk to your people at your hospital, or at least talk to the surgeon.

Now, if your tractor don't start, don't ask your doctor. I have a smart doctor but he does not know a thing about my Farmall.

LA in WI

WGM · Dec 31, 2012

I always come here for my medical/legal advice.

petermiddletn · Dec 31, 2012

The screws are placed just like a cast on a broken leg or arm, they hold the bone in place so that the bone will heal (fuse) back together. The device you are using is called a bone stimulator, it actually stimulates bone growth. For bone to fuse solid it takes a full 3 months, and at 6 weeks Xray should reveal it fusing together, just not yet complete. If the screws or any other hardware breaks (fails) it is because there is to much stress because the bone has not yet healed.
Are you a smoker, were you advised to increase your calcium intake? Good luck and hope all turns out well.

John B. · Dec 31, 2012

I was at my doctor today and he took the x-ray. He explained this is not common but does happen, the screw breakage I mean. I didn't think at the time to ask him of the bone healing machine I am using may be a contributing factor of causing this. I would not call everyone on this website non-medical because I have read many of their posts thru the years and many are not farmers or tractor people either. But I, like most that use this site find comfort in asking all of you which means more than any pain medicine could provide. I find your post a little offensive but that's just me.

John B. · Dec 31, 2012

LA I have to say I'm sorry that you wasted your time reading my post or thought it was O/T but you knew this by the title of my description.

Michael Price · Dec 31, 2012

John, I would say the problem is caused from the screw flexing. Your probably on a lot of pain pills and either in physical therapy or are at least told to do some exercises.

It looks like the screws go from the first metatarsal and the medial cuneiform. There is a joint there, it doesn't move much but Id say it moved enough to stress the screw. It looks like they screwed the joint together to keep it from flexing so it could heal. Were they planning to remove the screws later?

pete 23 · Dec 31, 2012

Looks like you got some pretty good answers for being a tractor based forum. Must be a few medical technicians that have a tractor in the back yard also.

504 · Dec 31, 2012

Is your Dr. worried about it? Doc told me that nicotine and aspirin both inhibit bone growth, so I did not have either. It was five years before I had an aspirin. Screws, pins and clamps are holding my spine together.

OT Medical Question

John B.

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MarkB_MI

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Janicholson

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jackinok

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Anonymous-0

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retired farmer

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Dave Sherburne NY

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LA in WI

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WGM

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petermiddletn

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John B.

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John B.

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Michael Price

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pete 23

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504

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