# Metal implants and lightning **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [May 30, 2008, 1:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/metal-implants-and-lightning/451092 "2008-05-30T01:42:17Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Indyellen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/indyellen/32/4176_2.png) [@Indyellen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Indyellen)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2008, 1:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/metal-implants-and-lightning/451092/1 "2008-05-30T01:42:17Z")
My mother (who fractured both femurs and now has rods in both legs) was wondering if this made her any more susceptible to being hit by lightning. Would susceptibility be based on where the metal piece is in the body - if there is any likelihood at all? Her doctor implied not, and I lean towards not, also, but I thought it was a good question - so where else to bring it but here. ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2008, 3:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/metal-implants-and-lightning/451092/2 "2008-05-30T03:32:02Z")
[QUOTE=Indyellen] fractured both femurs [/QUOTE] I’d just like to say “yikes”. ---
**Author:** ![cornflakes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9d8465/32.png) [@cornflakes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cornflakes)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2008, 3:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/metal-implants-and-lightning/451092/3 "2008-05-30T03:57:06Z")
Mind if I ask what happened? I have a Schneider rod in my left femur from getting sideswiped on my bike. The only person that I knew with rods in both legs got them from riding his motorcycle into a cow. I doubt that she is any more susceptible. Her thighs may be a little more conductive, but the static field around her body just before lightning strikes (or doesn’t strike) would probably be about the same. ---
**Author:** ![Indyellen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/indyellen/32/4176_2.png) [@Indyellen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Indyellen)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2008, 4:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/metal-implants-and-lightning/451092/4 "2008-05-30T04:01:33Z")
She tripped over a chair mat at work. (She’s 71 with bad osteoporosis.) This was back in January; she’s walking with a walker and just got the go-ahead today to try putting full weight on both legs. It’s been a rough year so far. :eek: ---
**Author:** ![treis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bc79bd/32.png) [@treis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/treis)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2008, 4:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/metal-implants-and-lightning/451092/5 "2008-05-30T04:24:52Z")
I don’t think so. Your insides are fairly conductive. What with them essentially being salt water. A metal rod isn’t going to be much more conductive than salt water. The big resistance is going across your skin. ---
**Author:** ![Kevbo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/e47774/32.png) [@Kevbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kevbo)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2008, 4:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/metal-implants-and-lightning/451092/6 "2008-05-30T04:38:59Z")
Lightning strikes are “primed” by effects that are mostly electrostatic in nature…that is to say strong electric fields with near zero current flow. At very low currents wood, paper, and certainly animals of any type (humans for example) are better conductors than insulators…charge can move easily enough that there is almost no voltage difference from head to toe. If she IS hit by lightning, the implants might change the outcome, but they won’t make her any more likely to be struck than when she was just flesh and bone.