Arthrodesis of the first metatarsophalangeal joint in rheumatoid arthritis. Biodegradable rods and Kirschner-wires in 39 cases.
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.
Niskanen
R O
RO
Rheumatism Foundation Hospital, Heinola, Finland.
Lehtimäki
M Y
MY
Hämäläinen
M M
MM
Törmälä
P
P
Rokkanen
P U
PU
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