Increased risk for complications following removal of hardware in patients with liver disease, pilon or pelvic fractures: A regression analysis

Removal of hardware following fracture fixation is not a risk-free procedure. Patients with liver disease are at increased risk for complications, including increased risk for needing revision surgery following hardware removal. Patients having hardware removed following fixation for pilon fractures also are at increased risk for complication, although they may not require a return trip to the operating room. Finally, removal of pelvic hardware is associated with a higher return to the operating room.