title: Clinical evaluation of uniaxially oriented poly-L-lactide rod for fixation of experimental femoral diaphyseal fracture in immature cats.
abstract: Transverse diaphyseal fractures of the femur were experimentally made in immature cats, and were fixed by an intramedullary pinning technique using an uniaxially oriented poly-L-lactide (PLLA) rod, a biodegradable polymer. The healing process was evaluated radiographically and histologically. Formation of bony callus was completed in 8 weeks, and cortical bony union followed. The remodeling process was then observed form 12 to 16 weeks. The healing process was almost the same as when a metallic implant was used. Abundant periosteal callus formation may be attributable to the lower elasticity of the PLLA rod compared with metallic implants. Since no other abnormalities such as growth deformities were detected, it was concluded that the combined use of a uniaxially oriented PLLA rod and an external splint is clinically useful for the repair of diaphyseal fractures in immature cats.
authors.affiliation: Division of Veterinary Surgery, School of Veterinary Medicine, Nippon Veterinary and Animal Science University, Tokyo, Japan.
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Hara
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tagawa
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ejima
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Orima
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sugiyama
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Shikinami
authors.forename: S H
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Hyon
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Ikada
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001858:Bone Nails; D002415:Cats / Q000293:injuries* / Q000601:surgery*; D018483:Diaphyses / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000293:injuries / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D005264:Femoral Fractures / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery / Q000662:veterinary*; D005594:Fracture Fixation, Intramedullary / Q000662:veterinary; D008297:Male; D011091:Polyesters; D011859:Radiography
chemical_list: D011091:Polyesters; C033616:poly(lactide)