Aftercare

Again, this depends primarily upon the patient and the fracture. Generally, before any fixators are removed X-rays or other imaging data is taken to assess the state of the fracture. These images provide the medical team with information about not only the bone, but its associated tissues, blood supplies and innervation. This is vital to ensure the maximum success rate for repair, because if the surrounding tissue isn't healthy then the bone may not be, and the potential for post-operative  complications increases. If the break has healed then the external fixators are removed (a simple and relatively pain free procedure), internal fixators (nails, plates, screws etc.) are normally never removed unless there is a problem with them.

Time Scale

Healing after surgery does not normally require you to stay in hospital for the duration. If an invasive method is used your time as an inpatient will be as long as it takes for you to recover from the surgery (normally 3/4 days depending on procedure), and if non-invasive methods are used normally no time as an inpatient is required.

In terms of recovery, no two people are the same, and recovery rates vary across people and procedures but generally most adult fractures heal in 6-12 weeks. Children often heal quicker (~6 weeks) and the elderly slower (12+weeks).

Metal Work...

Except for having trouble walking through an airport, most patients have few problems with their implants. The most common complications are post operative infection, which can be treated relatively easily using antibiotics and good wound care. Actual implant rejection, where the implant beings to leave the body, are very infrequent, but can usually be rectified using surgery (removal or re-application of the implant). "Failing" implants are also uncommon, but not unheard of. The inplant (especially plates because of their length) are under constant mechanical stress, and this over time, can be sufficent to induce metal fatigue and lead to the implant failing. In these cases, if the inplant is causing no complications or discomfort it is generally left in situ, but there is also the option of surgical removal.

Scarring

If the truama suffered was sufficent to break a bone, the tissue around it will probably also suffer damage. In closed fractures, this is often no worse than bruising and some muscle damage. If a surgical repair was made the scarring can be large, or tiny, depending upon the treatment method used. Correctly used External fixators can support complex breaks for months, and leave only circular "pin entry" scars. Whereas if a mechano sets worth of plates and screws have been used the scarring will be appreciatively larger.

Image courtesy of Flickr and are under creative commons license. Original image can be found at

https://www.flickr.com/photos/frazzledjen/2073133385/sizes/l/

https://www.flickr.com/photos/jkgroove/105976786/sizes/o/