I need help with a decision I have to make on the 21st this month

Posted by dabint @dabint, Jul 10 8:43am

Hello, I'm 17 years old, I'm not very active and weigh about 210 LBS, 1 Year ago I had surgery to input plates and screws (hardware) into my ankle because my Tibia was fractured. And they'll give me a month before asking my decision on whether to leave the hardware in or remove it. My mom isn't really forcing/leaning me onto one side of the decision only my dad is with saying he really wants me to remove my plate only because my aunt had the same thing and she's in her 30s-40s and she kept the plate in and she has issues standing/walking and deals with pain a lot. I only had pain once or twice like a week or two after the surgery when I was walking. I haven't had any issues with pain ever since that and I haven't delt with discomfort at all. Do I keep my plate or remove it? Also I'm not sure if later on I'm going to have issues with the hardware

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jenatsky | @jenatsky | Jul 13 3:10pm

If your leg with the plate isn’t bothering you why do you want unnecessary surgery? Invasive surgery like yours to remove the plates and screws requires general anesthesia. Anytime you’re being put under like this there is a risk of a complications. That is why your dad or mom must sign the consent to authorize the surgery. And if it’s not really necessary and god forbid anything untoward happened to you your parents would be crushed as well as you. There are no guarantees in life but when you have an option to not be cut open if I didn’t need I wouldn’t do it. When you’re of age you can decide on your own only if it’s necessary. Your aunt’s issue may be due to many reasons since she’s a lot older than you.