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Fixation of cancellous bone and physeal fractures with biodegradable rods of self‐reinforced polylactic acid
Author(s) -
Räihä J. E.,
Axelson P.,
Skutnabb K.,
Rokkanen P.,
Törmälä P.
Publication year - 1993
Publication title -
journal of small animal practice
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.7
H-Index - 67
eISSN - 1748-5827
pISSN - 0022-4510
DOI - 10.1111/j.1748-5827.1993.tb02632.x
Subject(s) - medicine , polylactic acid , osteosynthesis , fixation (population genetics) , bone healing , implant , cancellous bone , dentistry , surgery , biomedical engineering , composite material , materials science , population , environmental health , polymer
The frequent need for removal of metallic implants after fracture healing, has stimulated research into biodegradable osteosynthesis materials. The ideal biodegradable implant should support the fracture during healing and would slowly lose strength as the bone became able to resist the distracting forces. Decades of research into biodegradable materials has given much information on biocompatibility, degradation rates and processability of resorbable polyglycolides and polylactides. This has aided the development of an ultra high strength self‐reinforcing composite construction allowing the manufacture of implants for several purposes. This study tested the use of self‐reinforced poly‐1‐lactic acid rods for the fixation of cancellous fractures and osteotomies in 20 fixations in dogs and cats. The operating technique, callus formation, healing pattern, and functional and radiological end result, were evaluated. Two fixations failed but the functional end result was judged to be excellent in all but one of the healed cases. There was no need for surgery to remove the implants.