title: Removal of orthopaedic implants from patients at the University College Hospital, Ibadan.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Removal of orthopaedic implants is often done after complete healing of fractures. Orthopaedic implants are removed for a variety of reasons such as patients' request after fracture union, implant failure and other complications arising from the use of implants.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To determine the indications and complications of removal of orthopaedic implants in our hospital.
  
  
  METHODS
  A retrospective study of medical records of all patients who underwent removal of orthopaedic implants used for fracture fixation at a Nigeria teaching hospital during the five year period between 2007 and 2011. Information about age, sex, indications for fracture fixation, indications for removal of implant, types of implants removed, complications of implant removal and its treatment were studied.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Thirty patients whose orthopaedic implants had been in place for a mean duration of 12 months before removal were included in the study. 80% of the implants were removed from the femur. Implant failure is the commonest indication for implant removal accounting for 60% of cases.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Healed fractures and implant failure are the commonest indications for removal of orthopaedic implants in our centre. Implant removal should be advocated when they have failed or become symptomatic. However, appropriate patient selection and adequate surgical technique should be employed to achieve satisfactory outcome.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedics and Trauma, University College Hospital, Ibadan, Nigeria. ogunjosh@yahoo.com
authors.forename: O J
authors.initials: OJ
authors.lastname: Ogundele
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedics and Trauma, University College Hospital, Ibadan, Nigeria.
authors.forename: A O
authors.initials: AO
authors.lastname: Ifesanya
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedics and Trauma, University College Hospital, Ibadan, Nigeria.
authors.forename: A A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Adesanya
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedics and Trauma, University College Hospital, Ibadan, Nigeria.
authors.forename: T O
authors.initials: TO
authors.lastname: Alonge
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002648:Child; D015331:Cohort Studies; D020878:Device Removal / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D005264:Femoral Fractures / Q000601:surgery; D005593:Fracture Fixation, Internal; D006785:Hospitals, University; D006801:Humans; D006810:Humeral Fractures / Q000601:surgery; D016268:Internal Fixators; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009549:Nigeria; D019637:Orthopedic Procedures / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000453:epidemiology*; D011475:Prosthesis Failure; D016459:Prosthesis-Related Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000601:surgery; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D055815:Young Adult