title: Arthrodesis of the first metatarsophalangeal joint in rheumatoid arthritis. Biodegradable rods and Kirschner-wires in 39 cases.
abstract: The first metatarsophalangeal joint was arthrodesed in 39 patients with rheumatoid arthritis. Fixation material was either biodegradable self-reinforced poly-L-lactide rods or Kirschner-wires. There were 3 clinical nonunions in the biodegradable group, and none in the K-wire group, and radiographic nonunion in 5 and 2 cases, respectively. The fixator had to be removed in 3 cases in the K-wire group. The biodegradable rods did not seem to be any better than K-wires.
authors.affiliation: Rheumatism Foundation Hospital, Heinola, Finland.
authors.forename: R O
authors.initials: RO
authors.lastname: Niskanen
authors.forename: M Y
authors.initials: MY
authors.lastname: Lehtimäki
authors.forename: M M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Hämäläinen
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Törmälä
authors.forename: P U
authors.initials: PU
authors.lastname: Rokkanen
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000601:surgery*; D001174:Arthrodesis / Q000295:instrumentation*; D001673:Biodegradation, Environmental; D001864:Bone Wires; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008683:Metatarsophalangeal Joint / Q000601:surgery*; D008875:Middle Aged