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Broke my right wrist, the good arm. Any ideas how long this breakage goes on?

dualazmak said:
I am also a little bit worried about future possibility of MRI diagnosis on you for any objective/reason.

Usually titanium (and titanium alloys) are safe in MRI imaging, but stainless steel is usually categorized as ”contraindications" for MRI...
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Titanium is more expensive than stainless, however, the choice is not totally cost. Reference for reading from quick Google search - https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8568430/

For some MRI reference - one source here -
https://mriquestions.com/orthopedic-hardware.html

Any metal implants in current use today will be sufficiently non-ferrous, that means non-magnetic enough, to avoid being attracted to the magnet. The real issue with MRI scanning and metal implants is two-fold - heating from RF absorption and Eddy currents generated from Gradient coil pulses. RF causes heating- think of the MRI as a big microwave oven while scanning. The scanner keeps track of this based on patient weight, room temperature, and scanning protocols (faster scanning results in higher average RF power over time. The scanner calculates overall patient warming, based on these variables, to avoid “cooking the patient”. If the calculated heat is too high a “pause” in scanning will occur to allow the patient to “cool“. Metal implants, mass and conductivity dependent, can cause localized heating that won’t be accounted for by these calculations. Be sure to fill out your MRI questionnaire accurately when answering the question about implants for MRI scanning suitability. Eddy currents cause two different issues. First, the changing magnetic field caused by the Gradient pulses causes current flow in the metal at 90 degrees to the changing magnetic fields. This current flow generates its own magnetic field that is also 90 degrees to the direction of the Eddy currents. The magnetic field generated by the Eddy currents is now in a direction that interacts with the main magnetic field of the magnet. This tends to make the metal object “jump a bit“ during gradient pulses. Cardiac stents are of concern here due to localized RF heating and Eddy currents and can be restricted to lower strength magnets. Moving the patient into the bore also generates Eddy currents in metal which makes the metal want to stay in place during movement. Faster motion increases this effect. The second major Eddy currents issue with metal implants is the small magnet field generated by the Eddies will slightly change the field strength at the location of the implant. MRI imaging depends on precise field strength at any given location in the imaging slice. The RF frequency absorbed by Hydrogen during the transmit time depends on the field strength. During the receive time, the Hydrogen emits the same frequency it absorbed. If the magnetic field strength is not what is expected, then the RF echoes are the wrong frequency and will not be displayed in the correct physical location. Metal implants often show a signal ”void” around their location.
Electronic devices, such as pacemakers, are certified by the OEM for suitability based on field strength of the Magnet. Depending on the device, it may be certified for use in a 1.5T but not in a 3T. The major concern - after malfunctions caused by RF and Eddy currents - is burns caused by RF heating.

In short, Doodski’s metal repair parts will not likely cause any issues with MRI scanning except for signal “voids” around the parts in images of his arm.
 
Bob from Florida said:
In short, Doodski’s metal repair parts will not likely cause any issues with MRI scanning except for signal “voids” around the parts in images of his arm.
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Thank you for your detailed information which I have been already well aware of, since my profession as Ph.D. scientist has been in advanced 3D anatomical and physiological medical imaging hardware and software including MRI, PET, SPECT, CT, PET/MRI, SPECT/MRI, as well as in R&D of imaging contrast agents and radiopharmaceuticals.

Please understand that I would not like to give too much worries to Dooski, but in case if he will have MRI scanning in the future, he will need to tell the physician (who would order the MRI study for him) and to the MRI operator (medical technician) about "the stainless steel" in his wrist.

The slight potential risks and the highly possible imaging artifacts may vary depending on the strength of the magnetic field (now we have wide availability of 1.5 T to 7.0 T MRI machines, even 9.4 T ones for clinical research) and also on the pulse sequences (we have so much varieties) as well as type of surface coils (if needed) to be applied in his future MRI procedures.
 
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Bob from Florida said:
Titanium is more expensive than stainless, however, the choice is not totally cost. Reference for reading from quick Google search - https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8568430/

For some MRI reference - one source here -
https://mriquestions.com/orthopedic-hardware.html

Any metal implants in current use today will be sufficiently non-ferrous, that means non-magnetic enough, to avoid being attracted to the magnet. The real issue with MRI scanning and metal implants is two-fold - heating from RF absorption and Eddy currents generated from Gradient coil pulses. RF causes heating- think of the MRI as a big microwave oven while scanning. The scanner keeps track of this based on patient weight, room temperature, and scanning protocols (faster scanning results in higher average RF power over time. The scanner calculates overall patient warming, based on these variables, to avoid “cooking the patient”. If the calculated heat is too high a “pause” in scanning will occur to allow the patient to “cool“. Metal implants, mass and conductivity dependent, can cause localized heating that won’t be accounted for by these calculations. Be sure to fill out your MRI questionnaire accurately when answering the question about implants for MRI scanning suitability. Eddy currents cause two different issues. First, the changing magnetic field caused by the Gradient pulses causes current flow in the metal at 90 degrees to the changing magnetic fields. This current flow generates its own magnetic field that is also 90 degrees to the direction of the Eddy currents. The magnetic field generated by the Eddy currents is now in a direction that interacts with the main magnetic field of the magnet. This tends to make the metal object “jump a bit“ during gradient pulses. Cardiac stents are of concern here due to localized RF heating and Eddy currents and can be restricted to lower strength magnets. Moving the patient into the bore also generates Eddy currents in metal which makes the metal want to stay in place during movement. Faster motion increases this effect. The second major Eddy currents issue with metal implants is the small magnet field generated by the Eddies will slightly change the field strength at the location of the implant. MRI imaging depends on precise field strength at any given location in the imaging slice. The RF frequency absorbed by Hydrogen during the transmit time depends on the field strength. During the receive time, the Hydrogen emits the same frequency it absorbed. If the magnetic field strength is not what is expected, then the RF echoes are the wrong frequency and will not be displayed in the correct physical location. Metal implants often show a signal ”void” around their location.
Electronic devices, such as pacemakers, are certified by the OEM for suitability based on field strength of the Magnet. Depending on the device, it may be certified for use in a 1.5T but not in a 3T. The major concern - after malfunctions caused by RF and Eddy currents - is burns caused by RF heating.

In short, Doodski’s metal repair parts will not likely cause any issues with MRI scanning except for signal “voids” around the parts in images of his arm.
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I want my category 1 CME for reading this post.
 
Doodski said:
~9pm on the 15th I broke my wrist when I tripped on something behind me and extended my arm to block the fall. SNAP! I broke my shoulder going over the bars of my dirtbike and that made me vomit from pain but this wrist is a different aching pain when it happened. I'm in a big cast to the fingers and elbow, ate some tylenol X-strength and Advil X-strength, the cannabis feels like relief from pressure too. Watching lotsa bushcraft and catfishing videos and keeping my mind clear. Emergency nurse advised 6 weeks for this to end. Is that about right? That fentanyl they gave me before sedation and reduction was veryyyyy welcomed. It took 11.5 hours in emergency. I may just get bored and learn to type with my left hand...lol. :D Having a sense of humor about this but it's pretty serious for living alone. :D There was a big bump sticking out where the broken stuff and the joint had separated and stayed that way until they put me out and aligned everything. I heard word of a forked break compound fracture.
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Gonna wish you "Break a leg" on a quick recovery :)
 
300 series of stainless is non-magnetic and many medical implants are made from it. I have worked on several. It is highly corrosion resistant also, unlike the 400 series. Best grades of SS are 302 - 316, with 316 the toughest.
 
@Doodski I guess you were too old to qualify for the titanium you wanted. Hope your typing doesn't slow down and glad to hear you are finally on the mend. :)
 
Salt said:
Usually it can remain if it does no restrictions (esp with elder ones ;) ).
Otherwise removing after 6 month is usual.
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I hope not... Cost me a ~$100 for a taxi back and forth to this hospital they used that is in another city. :D It was a nice ride but expensive. I have no idea why they sourced the service so far away.
 
Doodski said:
I hope not... Cost me a ~$100 for a taxi back and forth to this hospital they used that is in another city. :D It was a nice ride but expensive. I have no idea why they sourced the service so far away.
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Very possibly one of the doctors has a financial interest in it. Very common in the medical industry.
 
muslhead said:
Very possibly one of the doctors has a financial interest in it. Very common in the medical industry.
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In Canada? In the US I could see that but there?
 
I checked out the Dr a little bit and he is the surgeon for a smaller hospital that has a wrist specialty department. So they referred me from the major city I live in to a specialist that is a 45 minute drive from home. So this guy has been a wrist surgeon for some years and that's what he does all day everyday apparently. All I know is my stitches are cutting because they are ready to be taken out and the cast is a major burden. I've been adjusting the position up and down my arm because it's juts so annoying. I managed to pull the half-cast up my arm enough that I can type with both hands again and use the mouse enough to get by with the right/good hand. 6 more days till the next Dr appointment with the surgeon that screwed it all together for me. Crossing fingers that he has a more flexible cast for the next 2 weeks if any cast at all. :D
 
Doodski said:
I checked out the Dr a little bit and he is the surgeon for a smaller hospital that has a wrist specialty department. So they referred me from the major city I live in to a specialist that is a 45 minute drive from home. So this guy has been a wrist surgeon for some years and that's what he does all day everyday apparently. All I know is my stitches are cutting because they are ready to be taken out and the cast is a major burden. I've been adjusting the position up and down my arm because it's juts so annoying. I managed to pull the half-cast up my arm enough that I can type with both hands again and use the mouse enough to get by with the right/good hand. 6 more days till the next Dr appointment with the surgeon that screwed it all together for me. Crossing fingers that he has a more flexible cast for the next 2 weeks if any cast at all. :D
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Should saw this cast off and either recast or give you a removable splint. He'll saw this one off to check for infection at the incision. Please don't stick any pointy objects under the cast to try to scratch that itch-not a good idea...
 
The cast is off! 2 weeks after surgery with several screws that I counted and I have no cast. They gave me a small brace to remove and put on whenever I feel like it for the next 2 weeks. Feels great!
 
BDWoody said:
Sounds like you are permanently screwed!

Great news! How's the flexibility?
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45 degrees +/- deflection when flexing the wrist up and down and I can make a karate chop shape and a fist. The doctor said he's surprised and said I have made a fast recovery. I'm bare arm'd right now and it feels great. Mouse'ing the mouse at the PC has never felt better!
 
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