Hardware Removal '06

Jim elects to have the hardware removed from his left leg.
He has a pin in his femur and a plate on his fibula.
The skin around the plate has been bruised by his boots at work,
so it will be good to get it out.

Here are the surgical sites 4 days after surgery
when the dressing is changed.
The post surgical pain was greater than anticipated
but the pain killers did the trick.

The muscles in the outer thigh were the most painful;
the herb Arnica helped reduce the bruising.

The notation JS are my surgeon's initials, to alert him that this is the leg to work on.

Here the skin is knitting together well with
no discoloration from infection 2 weeks after the operation.
The staples come out on this day.

This view shows the surgical sites to scale with the whole leg,
 the staples still in place.

Here are the sites 2 days after the staples have been removed.
Again, there is no sign of infection, though there is
one small angry red spot at the end of one incision on the thigh.

With physical therapy to recover his strength
in the affected muscles, Jim is recovering well.

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Last updated 2/19/07