Wrist fracture wire removal - how painful?

[WhoKnowsWhereTheTimeGoes]

DS (9) fractured his radius two weeks ago and has had it pinned with two wires under GA this week. He has to have them removed in 4 weeks. DS does not tolerate pain well and I am worried because the consultant has said they do the removal under GA for younger children, but not at his age, this suggests that it is pretty painful. I am concerned that DS will get hysterical and be unable to keep still, especially for the second one if the first hurts, he has Asperger's Syndrome and isn't bothered about what other people think or that he might be wasting people's time, he can only focus on himself and his immediate pain. TBH most children are probably like this to some extent I guess.

Has anyone had this done themselves or their DCs had it done? How bad is it? Is it over very quickly? I'm also unsure how much to tell him, don't want to kid him it's not going to hurt when it is, OTOH don't want to get him in too much of a state in anticipation either.

Thanks, we have got a follow up visit at the fracture clinic next week, I will ask again about it there and stress how concerned about it I am.

Talk with your consultant and express your concerns. I think it should be your decision whether your child has a GA. Maybe you could have gas and air.. Speak to your anaesthetist. I work in theatre and if it were my child I would prob opt for gas and air or nothing over GA as it carried a risk. Having said that.. It's Your choice. Good luck

I had mine removed without anything at all, and the anticipation was far worse than what happened. It hurt not too badly for about a second as they actually pulled them out, and my wires had been in for 10 weeks.

The anticipation was bad because I saw the Dr with the big pliers. So keep his hand one way and his head totally in the opposite direction while they get the instruments out etc. A good dose of calpol and nurofen before hand would be sensible, but I think a GA would be overkill.

Thanks too Lizzy and CMOT. I wouldn't want a GA unless it really was necessary, it makes it so much more of a big thing, risk wise and time spent in hospital etc, gas and air sounds like a good alternative. DS had a bit of a bad reaction to his GA this week, and was completely hysterical for half an hour on coming round and the anaesthetist said we should mention that to any future anaesthetists. I will ask for a word with the Dr without DS in the room at the next fracture clinic visit and talk it through then.

The procedure is usually very quick. Just a hard tug on the wires and they are out. I would say less than a minute procedure time. I obviously haven't seen your x rays so can't say it would be like that in your case (I'm sure it's straight forward or the consultant wouldn't have suggested no GA). Hope all goes well

He whinged about having his canula out before he left hospital, which didn't bode well! I think my main worry is that there are two wires, if it was only one he would just get a shock. Having to do it again a minute later is worse. Anyway, I'm sure whoever is doing it will have done it many times and will have dealt with many anxious parents and children.