i would like to hear from someone who has experience with a electronic stimulator. I have had repair for lisfranc fracture. One joint has been grafted a second time. I had the hard ware removed in April 04 and just found out this week that the grafted area of bone is thining. No idea why. Monday I will start using a bone growth stimulator.

janet

I don't have an answer about the bone stimulator, but I have a question for you. I had a fusion of my big toe with a bone graft from my hip last Feb. I was just told that my hardware may need to come out after about a year ( a plate and three screws). I saw your post that said your graft was thinning. Where was your fusion? Also, why did you have the hardware removed? I was told that if it did not bother me, I could leave it in.

Thanks,
JDM

I don't have an answer about the bone stimulator, but I have a question for you. I had a fusion of my big toe with a bone graft from my hip last Feb. I was just told that my hardware may need to come out after about a year ( a plate and three screws). I saw your post that said your graft was thinning. Where was your fusion? Also, why did you have the hardware removed? I was told that if it did not bother me, I could leave it in.

Thanks,
JDM

This hardware was removed because I was allergic to the steel. There was a lot of swelling and pain. The graft was taken from my heel last July to fuse the navicular bone to the first cuboid. I have had seven fusions in three differect proceedures. The first proceedure was to fuse the big toe like yours. The doctor used titainiun screws. I was not allergic to them but they were removed due to rubbing against my shoe. They were removed at the same time another proceedure was done.

About two weeks ago I begain to feel pain at the graft site. I called the doctor and was told to bring the foot in for x-ray. He was afraid that it had broken. It had not broken, but rather the graft had thinned out.

There is confusion concerning why this graft failed. This is the second time this area was grafted. The first time it just did not grow. This time there was solid bone. As the surgeon said yesterday, "I know the bone was there, I saw it." He hopes the bone can be stimulated to become denser.

Janet

Janet,
Thanks for answering my questions. I have decided that I sometimes learn more from this board than I do from the doctor. I was told that as of last week I am 100% fused. I am going to wait to see if the hardware bothers me before making any decisions.

Jennie

Good choice. I do not do anything unless there is not other choice.
Janet