In this mini-article, Dr. Lee dispels the myth that pins, screws, and other internal fixation hardware gets cold in the winter.
Myth: Internal fixation (plates and screws) can get cold inside your feet or ankles during cold winter months.
Response: This is not exactly accurate. The plates and screws effectively become part of the body once implanted so they won’t deviate from the patient’s body temperature.
There are certain circumstances in which a patient may feel the hardware (screws, plates, pins) below the skin or rubbing against their shoes. In those cases, the hardware can be removed once healing has occurred. But, the hardware will not feel cold unless there is a bigger problem occurring.