(Editor's note: I am not a medical journalist, so this article is an elementary introduction to the subject.)

Recently my son fell from a ladder and broke his wrist, and although I was aware of the subject of screws and plates in the body, the picture of his surgery intrigued me. So I did some research on the internet about the subject.

Surgical screws are made of titanium or high-grade surgical stainless steel. The sizes of the screw can span vary from .06 inches to .29 inches, depending on the type of fracture. I read that the screws do not set off metal detectors because they are non-magnetic. However, I've also been told by one individual told they were asked before they bordered a plane if they have metal in their body.

"An orthopedic implant is a medical device manufactured to replace a missing joint or bone or to support a damaged bone. The medical implant is mainly fabricated using stainless steel and titanium alloys because of its strength and the plastic coating that is done on it acts as artificial cartilage."

"Implants may include metal plates and screws, pins, and intramedullary rods inserted into the cavity of a bone. While the implants are typically designed to remain in the body forever, there are instances when their removal may be considered appropriate and even necessary."

The body heals between six and eight weeks, but it also depends on how severe the break is and the break itself's location.

Fortunately, "the majority of orthopedic devices used to care for patients can be safely scanned. This includes orthopedic joint replacements, orthopedic pins and rods, and most hardware that is implanted in bone. Most patients wait four weeks after having an orthopedic or spinal implant before getting an MRI."

There can be side effects of an implanted screw in the body. A blood test called MELISA is performed before the surgery to determine if the body is allergic to titanium.

"In the early stages, low levels of titanium can only cause urticaria, eczema, and pain, but high and long-term levels of titanium in the body can cause metallosis, which can lead to bone or tissue death. The use of such titanium has a devastating effect on the brain, heart, eyes, and other organs. "

Abd, the history of the screw, became with Archimedes of Syracuse in the third century BC. It was a water screw. The screw continued its development in 7 BC by being cast in bronze. There is some controversy in its history, but the first application of the screw was in irrigation. Using the screw as a fastener was until the 15th century, and it was used to strengthen shoulder-supported firearms.

It wasn't until 1850 that two French surgeons Carl and Rigaud, used the screw in orthopedic surgery. The introduction of stainless-steel screws was in 1912 and used in orthopedics in 1926. It's incredible the development of orthopedic surgery. Titanium alloys were developed in the 1970s and have continued to improve in orthopedics, as seen in my son's x-ray picture.