Hardware: Is removal of an Intra Medullary rod a difficult operation?

I would rate it a 2/10 on the difficulty scale!
All you have to do is remove the screws with a screwdriver, find the top end of the rod, fix the extractor to the rod and back it out. The only difficult part is in the planning. Because there are so many different manufacturers and designs the surgeon who takes out the rod has to know exactly what was put in. Otherwise the instruments may not fit.

Myles Clough MD OS Jan 11 2002