I've been wondering the same thing...I have 6 steel screws in my ankle. Without modern medicine I would have been lame, for life. With the screws, I am VERY physically active. I don't "need" the screws any more as they were put in to hold my mangled bones in place as they healed...however, I will never get them removed as I don't want to risk another surgery. Modern medicine is quite good at assemblage...