| Service | 🇺🇦 Ukraine | 🇨🇿 Czech Republic | 🇹🇷 Turkey |
|---|---|---|---|
| Removal of screws after osteosynthesis | from USD 154 | from USD 3,500 | from USD 4,200 |
| Removal of plates from the upper or lower limbs | from USD 154 | from USD 4,800 | from USD 5,000 |
| Removal of intramedullary implants or fixation devices | from USD 154 | from USD 4,500 | from USD 4,700 |
Prices in the “Ukraine” column come from MediUkraine’s partner clinics. The Czech Republic and Turkey columns show the lower bounds of prices published by clinics there (for Turkey, also the Turkish Dental Association’s recommended 2026 tariff), collected in August 2026 and converted to US dollars at the rate on the day of collection. A dash means we could not find a comparable published price. In any country, the final cost is set by the clinic after an examination.
Plates, screws, rods and wires are inserted during osteosynthesis to hold bone fragments in the correct position until they heal. Once the bone has healed, it takes over the supporting function completely, and the metal component remains in the tissues without any purpose: it may rub under the skin, irritate the soft tissues or restrict movement in a nearby joint. That is when the orthopaedic surgeon raises the question of removing it.
The operation is planned in advance. Low-trauma techniques are performed through small incisions under general or spinal anaesthesia; the procedure takes on average 30 to 90 minutes, and the hospital stay does not usually exceed one day. Most patients return to their normal routine within 1–2 weeks.
Reasons to remove fixation devices include discomfort where they are placed, irritation of the soft tissues, an allergic reaction to the metal or a planned need for further correction. The decision is based on X-rays or a CT scan, once it is confirmed that the bone has fully healed.
Ukrainian orthopaedic surgeons perform these operations routinely, with a low risk of complications and without lengthy rehabilitation. The next step for you is a follow-up X-ray and a consultation, at which the surgeon decides whether it is time to remove the hardware and which approach to use.
Travel. Ukrainian airspace is closed, so there are no commercial flights. Uzhhorod lies right on the border with Slovakia and close to Hungary, so patients usually arrive overland from one of these two countries, by car, bus or train.
Visas. Citizens of the EU, the United Kingdom and the United States do not need a visa for short stays in Ukraine. Rules depend on your citizenship, so check your own before booking.
Safety, plainly. Ukraine is at war. Air raid alerts occur across the country, including in Uzhhorod, and an appointment can be interrupted by one. Several governments advise against travel to Ukraine, and while that advice stands, ordinary travel and medical insurance is often void — confirm your cover with your insurer before you commit to anything.
Language. MediUkraine handles correspondence, scheduling, the written treatment plan and the quote in English. The clinic's team communicates with international patients in English.
Payment. You pay the clinic directly. Our coordination service is free of charge for you.
More on travel, safety and insurance: Safety and travel.
The method of removing metal fixation devices is chosen individually, depending on the type of hardware, its location, the time since it was inserted and the condition of the bone. In most cases the operation is performed after the bone has fully healed, to avoid tissue irritation, pain or inflammation.
A low-trauma approach is used most often: the orthopaedic surgeon makes a small incision over the implant and carefully removes the screws, plates or rods under X-ray guidance. These operations take 30–90 minutes, do not require a long hospital stay, and recovery takes 1–2 weeks.
In complex cases, when the hardware lies deep, close to a joint or has become overgrown with bone, an open approach is used. Imaging and direct visual control keep the risk of damage to surrounding tissues low, and the course of the operation remains predictable.
If an implant has been in place for a long time and you have pain, restricted movement or an allergic reaction to the metal, the orthopaedic surgeon will suggest planned removal. The approach can only be chosen on the basis of a recent X-ray, which shows exactly how the hardware is positioned in relation to the bone and joint.
Operations to remove screws, plates or implants usually go smoothly and involve a short recovery period. In the first few days there may be moderate discomfort, swelling or tenderness in the operated area; this is a natural tissue response. For the first 1–2 weeks, avoid physical strain, vigorous movements and sudden changes of body position. You can drive or return to work once the doctor allows it.
How long recovery takes depends on where the hardware was, the type of operation and your level of physical activity. For a desk job 5–7 days are usually enough; with heavy physical demands it can take up to 2–3 weeks. The orthopaedic surgeon makes the final decision on returning to full activity after a follow-up examination or X-ray.
Light activity helps healing: short walks improve blood flow. Drink enough water, eat a balanced diet, avoid alcohol and smoking, and avoid overheating and hot baths. If you develop severe pain, a fever or increasing swelling, contact the clinic immediately for advice and an examination.
For people who train or lead an active life, removal of metal hardware is not just the final stage of fracture treatment but a matter of regaining full, pain-free movement. It is important that the operation does not affect how the joints and muscles work. Low-trauma techniques make it possible to return to training within a few weeks of surgery.
The method is chosen individually: the orthopaedic surgeon assesses the type of hardware, its location and the condition of the bone and soft tissues. Additional diagnostics, such as an X-ray or CT scan, are sometimes ordered to determine the exact position of the implant. If you have heavy training or competitions ahead, the doctor may advise postponing the operation until the bone has fully strengthened.
Not everyone needs the hardware removed straight away. If the fixation device causes no pain, inflammation or allergy, the orthopaedic surgeon may suggest monitoring instead. The final decision is made after an examination, taking into account your age, activity level and bone condition.
When planning removal of screws, plates or implants, count not only the operation itself but also related costs: examinations, consultations, accommodation, medication, anaesthesia and post-operative care. In Ukraine this procedure usually works out better value, because diagnostics, surgery and rehabilitation take place in one centre, and the hospital stay lasts 1–2 days.
Why are prices lower? First, the cost of providing medical services, including the cost of a hospital day, materials, rent and salaries, is considerably lower in Ukraine than in EU countries or Turkey. Second, competition between private clinics keeps pricing transparent, with no hidden charges. Third, low-trauma techniques shorten the hospital stay, which noticeably reduces the final bill.
At the same time, a lower price does not mean lower standards: modern private clinics follow international standards and provide sterile conditions, full anaesthetic support and post-operative monitoring. Orthopaedic surgeons have extensive experience in removing metal hardware of varying complexity, and the course of the operation is predictable, with a low risk of complications.
It is a routine operation with a low risk of complications, although, like any surgery, it carries some risk. Private clinics in Ukraine perform removal of metal hardware according to European protocols: with full anaesthetic support, a sterile operating field and monitoring of your condition during and after the procedure. The hospital stay is short and recovery follows a predictable course.
X-ray guidance helps pinpoint the position of the fixation device and reduce the risk of tissue damage.
When choosing a surgeon, look at the orthopaedic surgeon's experience, the number of similar operations, adherence to international protocols and transparent pricing. MediUkraine arranges removal of screws, plates and implants at the partner clinic in Uzhhorod and explains what the quote includes before you agree the date.
📍 Uzhhorod, Ukraine
A multidisciplinary hospital in Uzhhorod, part of a network of medical facilities in western Ukraine: an outpatient clinic, a surgical centre covering 15 specialties and a 30-bed inpatient unit. Its 52 doctors include professors and PhDs; many operations are done as day surgery, with discharge after 1–2 days.
It is the surgical removal of metal hardware that was previously inserted to fix bones after a fracture. The operation is performed after the bone has fully healed or when the fixation device causes discomfort, pain or inflammation.
The price depends on the complexity of the operation, the type of fixation device and the length of the hospital stay. On average it is from USD 154, which is more affordable than in EU countries or Turkey.
Patients from most European countries can enter Ukraine without a visa. Citizens of other countries should check the entry requirements in advance.
The orthopaedic surgeon decides after an examination and an X-ray. If the bone has healed and the hardware is no longer needed or causes discomfort, the operation can be planned.
Depending on where the components are, an open or minimally invasive approach is used, often under X-ray guidance. The procedure is carried out under general or spinal anaesthesia.
Usually 1–2 weeks. You can walk on the same day or the day after the operation, gradually returning to full activity.
As a rule, it does not. On the contrary, after rehabilitation mobility usually improves, and the pain and tension in the area where the device was placed go away.
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