risk of pm dislodge

I work in an enviorment where physical assault is common(psych. r.n.) recent pm plkacement, return to work in 4 more weeks. any info on dislodge risk? i see some info on avoidance of contact sports...my job has potential for being ultimate 'contact sport".brent

2 Comments

impact

by Tracey_E - 2014-06-06 02:06:20

Odds of dislodging it are negligible. Even if the pm itself was hit hard enough to shift it, the leads aren't put in so tight that it would pull on them in the heart. Odds of getting bruised and it hurting like heck if you get hit are much higher. Protection and recommendations to avoid some sports is for us against bruising, not the pm.

There used to be a video on Heartbeat International's website of a boy who was shot in the chest. The pm stopped the bullet and saved his life, and kept on pacing.

One thought, 4 weeks might be a little soon to end up wrestling a patient. You wouldn't have to hit it very hard at that point to really hurt. Is your dr ok with you going back before 6 weeks, or could you start back light duty?

wound healing

by Selwyn - 2014-06-06 08:06:42

As a rough guide you can expect it to take 6 weeks for a surgical wound to heal with 50% of its final strength, the remainder coming over the next year. As the PM is sutured onto you to stop movement, there is little chance of dislodgement, though the box should never be fiddled with as this can stretch tissue, even after some time.

You would have to have some quick severe pulling apart of the skin at the wound site to open a wound after 4 weeks. Tracey's advice seems sound. I think you should make sure you have full shoulder movement prior to commencing work. The going rate for getting full movement back is 4-6 weeks, depending on your age and any other medical conditions that may result in delayed healing. As you are 62 years young, I would not be in a rush.

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