In a few weeks I will be taking my first trip with my reconstructed elbow (3 plates, 10 screws [humblebrag])
How does TSA and other security agencies handle this nowadays? Is there a list I can join or a note I can put on some record so that they are forewarned about what's in me?
I'm thinking this could be a good reason / excuse for me to request the pat down instead of walking through the imaging machine. True?
Forewarned is (bionically) forearmed, as the saying goes.
I don’t think it matters - I have 2 knee replacements and 1 hip replacement and have flown to the US, Europe and Africa since the ops, and none of the Security points cared. I just went through the x-ray as normal - no beeps or alarms. I was almost disappointed!
AmandaR, is right. No one cares. Implants have been around for a long time.
My sister has had a steel rod and hooks in her back for 35 years. She goes through security here and in Europe like everyone else. No problems.
Two knee replacements here. Twice they've wanted to pat them down. At one airport they wanted to pat down both knees and she asked if it would hurt me if she did. The other just wanted to pat down one knee.
I have set off the metal detector at the courthouse though and the guard asked, "Knee replacement?"
I said, "Yeah, both."
I had bot knees replaced about 2 years ago, and have flown a lot since then. It is very easy, so don't worry. You don't need to do anything ahead of time. Just let them know you have metal and they will take you to a different scanner. One of our recent flights, there were quite a few of us waiting in that line and everyone was asking each other "knee? one or both?" and laughing. The only time I had any issue, if you can call it that, was after going through that scanner they said they saw metal (really????) and they patted down my underwire bra, lol.
Adding what TSA has to say on the matter.
What are the procedures if I have an internal or external medical device, such as a pacemaker or metal implant?
Advanced Imaging Technology (AIT) can facilitate your screening and reduces the likelihood of a pat-down. Inform the TSA officer that you have an artificial knee, hip, other metal implant or a pacemaker, defibrillator or other internal medical device. You should not be screened by a walk-through metal detector if you have an internal medical device such as a pacemaker. Consult with your physician prior to flying.
If you choose to not be screened through the Advanced Imaging Technology (AIT), or a walk-through metal detector (WTMD), you will undergo a pat-down screening.
Both hips from before I started flying, now also a cervical fusion and a shoulder replacement. And added to with a pacemaker/defibrillator two years back. I always go through the "Tardis". and there are no issues. I may have had a pat/scan after.
Do they have the "hands up, stand in the silo" scanners in Europe or just the walk thru scanner?
I've had 'replacements' since 2010. In the states, I just tell the TSA folks I have them and they put me through the 360 scanner. I've never had a problem anywhere except Hungary in 2011. I think their x-ray might have been older. Luckily someone was in line behind me and could translate as their security only spoke Hungarian.
“Do they have the "hands up, stand in the silo" scanners in Europe or just the walk thru scanner?“
I think I’ve had both, definitely at Heathrow T5 it’s a hands-over-the-head machine, can’t remember the others so they were probably just walk-throughs.
I have a plate and many screws in my ankle and it’s never been an issue. I hope you are recovering well!
To make the process go smoothly, let them know you have 'metal parts'; wife usually tells the TSA person as we are putting stuff on the belt for the bag screening. They either point her or lead her off to somewhere and we meet up at the retrieval end of the scanner belt.
Waiting until it is your turn to go through a scanner can prolong the process.
I inform TSA of knee replacements and they direct me to the body scanner and then use a wand to scan both knees. When overseas I point to my knees and they direct me to the body scanner also and then wand my knees. I have not had any problem overseas.
I have a titanium rod in my femur and titanium in my back. I send my cane through the machine with my carry-on, otherwise I don't say anything and go on through.
Broken humerus with a rod from shoulder to elbow with screws on both ends. I almost always have to go through the scanner AND get patted down. Everyone is always nice, pat downs range from cursory to I feel like they should ask for my phone number afterwards. But it’s all part of air travel these days.
More important how’s your range of motion, avirose? Still doing PT? I hope it all went well.
I don't want to get too far away from travel-related but dealing with post-op care and arranging therapy has been the epitome of rubbing salt in the wounds.
I am still at the nothing-heavier-than-a coffee-cup stage, not for want of trying, believe me. Three weeks past surgery and the sutures still haven't been removed. Tortoise and hare, I hope ...
