title: Fixation of osteotomies of the distal femur with absorbable, self-reinforced, poly-L-lactide plates. An experimental study on rabbits.
abstract: Osteotomies of the distal femur were fixed with two self-reinforced poly-L-lactic acid (SR-PLLA) plates and metallic screws placed through the plates on each side of the femur in 23 adult rabbits. They were followed-up after 3, 6, 12 and 24 weeks. After killing, radiological, histological, microradiographic and oxytetracycline fluorescence studies were performed. Except for one histologically confirmed fibrotic non-union at 24 weeks, the osteotomies healed, including one involving a rabbit which had suffered an ipsilateral femoral shaft fracture of unknown cause. No malformations were observed, and the macroscopically detected swelling was a normal postoperative reaction. This study showed that SR-PLLA plates implanted on both sides on the bone are suitable for the fixation of weight-bearing cancellous bone osteotomies in rabbits.
authors.affiliation: Helsinki University Central Hospital, Finland.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Koskikare
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Hirvensalo
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Pätiälä
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Rokkanen
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Pohjonen
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Törmälä
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Lob
mesh_terms: D000042:Absorption; D000818:Animals; D001860:Bone Plates; D001863:Bone Screws; D005269:Femur / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D008852:Microradiography; D010012:Osteogenesis; D010027:Osteotomy / Q000379:methods*; D011091:Polyesters; D011817:Rabbits; D014945:Wound Healing
chemical_list: D011091:Polyesters; C033616:poly(lactide)