It concerns me that Odrick already has a plate from a college injury in the leg he just fractured. Did the medical staff miss this or did they think it wasn't a big deal? Well, since he broke the leg his first game it seems as if it is a big deal.
It is what it is. Probably hundreds of college football players playing with plates somewhere or another. Quite a few more pro players than that. If it wasn't healed correctly, no way he's back at practice. No Way!
I was trying to find more, it apparently was just a slight fracture: http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/news?slug=ap-dolphins-odrick Not sure how that plays into the previous break, but to bounce back in 4 weeks gives me reason to hope it was just a freak accident.
I'm not saying it's not healed enough to play now. My point is, will the plate cause these types of small fractures? I'm a Radiation Therapist so I have access to the minds of both Ortho Dr's and Radiologists. I've brought this up to a couple of them before and they wouldn't give a sure answer, but they all said that it's possible a plate in either the tibia or fibula could actually cause a fracture especially in a contact sport like pro football. That's my concern.
Good insight, and I appreciate that. Here's what I know: My wife had a couple of vertebrae fused with a plate about 9 months ago and I had an extensive talk with her surgeon, I should probably add at this point that I am actually a Mechanical Engineer by trade, so structural analysis isn't new to me, so anyways, her surgeon excplained that while there is always the threat of something near the screws breaking, its unlikely. The reasoning I have is that bones are actually flexible to some extent (Obviously everything has a modulus of elasticity) but bones are very flexible like soft Aluminum or wood and not brittle like Iron...this is important because it means that previous breaks (bones actually do fuse themselves back together with time.right?) Aren't subject to breaking in the same place. But, once again, I'm a Cad-jockey not a Doctor.
You're correct in that bones aren't as ridged as say, hardened steel, however, after we reach adult hood they get pretty hard. They will 'flex' and they are strong as hell given the size and weight of the average adult tib/fib etc. And bones do "fuse" back together. The thing with plates, however, is that they are held in with screws. The bone will grow around the screw, but that hole where the screw goes through will be less strong. Also, when a bone flexes it may crack near the edges of the plate or screw(s). I'm not a Dr either, but I did work as a radiographer (x-ray tech) before my current position and I have seen many breaks around plates, screws etc. Saying that, I have seen many people with "hardware" who have never had any issues either. I have never given an x-ray to an NFL player either though. Let's hope this was just a fluke and not something that is career threatening or recurring for Odrick.
Right, its the bolted joint I started talking about and diversed. I saw the pictures of my wifes plate, complete with self-tapping screws....that looked to be about a .112 (#4) screw. One thing I can attest to is that a fixed fastener (Threaded as opposed to a through hole with a nut on the back) is stronger because the entire area is in tension from the torque on the screw pulling on th threads. I will admit that, especially with Aluminum, wollering can happen if there are loads perpendicular to the screw. One big advantage that bone would have is that it regenerates. - The thought that every bone that has a plate in it is a possible weak link is scary if you think about all the kids playing with hardware.
Yeah, the wollering, I believe, is the biggest problem with screws. Bone will regenerate but not fast enough to repair an acute hairline fracture. It also may worsen if left undetected and get bigger. Again though, I've seen tons of people with hardware who have had no problems except maybe some aches and pains around the repair. However, none played professional football either. Anyhow, as I wrote earlier I just hope Odrick doesn't have this recurring problem throughout his career. I also hope that the Dolphins medical staff didn't just overlook this past injury of his.
