Most surgical metalware that is put in by Orthopaedic Surgeons to treat an injury is designed to stay in the patient permanently. Modern surgical "hardware" is made of materials that are well tollerated by the body. In some situations the implants can be irritating especially where they lie just under the skin or where they are subject to pressure, ie about the knee when kneeling.

Once the injury the implants were put in for has healed the implants can be removed. In my practice this is usually dome as a "daystay" procedure.