title: Outcomes analysis after routine removal of implants in healthy pediatric patients.
abstract: Routine removal of nonspinal, orthopedic implants from pediatric patients is a debated practice. The purpose of this study was to compare preremoval and postremoval outcome measures in children. Twenty-five patients, mean age 11.6 years, completed a pain scale and the Pediatric Outcomes Data Collection Instrument (PODCI). Many patients scored in the normal range of the PODCI before and after removal. Higher postoperative PODCI scores were found in patients without preoperative pain, and in patients with upper extremity versus lower extremity implants. In summary, routine removal of implants in children was carried out without complications and with some functional benefits.
authors.affiliation: Pediatric Orthopaedic Surgery, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, NYU Hospital for Joint Diseases, New York, USA. alice.chu@nyumc.org
authors.forename: Alice
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Chu
authors.forename: Maura R Z
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Madou
authors.forename: Debra A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Sala
authors.forename: Gail S
authors.initials: GS
authors.lastname: Chorney
authors.forename: David S
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Feldman
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D050281:Bones of Lower Extremity / Q000601:surgery; D001133:Bones of Upper Extremity / Q000601:surgery; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D020878:Device Removal / Q000009:adverse effects*; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D010147:Pain Measurement; D010149:Postoperative Pain / Q000209:etiology; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D019736:Prostheses and Implants; D016896:Treatment Outcome