title: Redisplacement after ankle osteosynthesis with absorbable implants.
abstract: A total of 1202 fractures of the ankle were treated with absorbable implants made of polyglycolide/polylactide copolymer or self-reinforced polyglycolide and/or self-reinforced polylactide between November 5, 1984, and January 12, 1994. A redisplacement after fixation was diagnosed in 30 patients (2.5%). The redisplacement occurred in 8 of 934 (0.9%) simple ankle fractures and in 22 of 268 (8.2%) severer ankle fractures. A breakage or loosening of the absorbable implant was verified at reoperation in 8 cases and was suspected in another 9. A technical failure was the main reason in 13 cases. A reoperation was performed for 25 patients. The absorbable implants seem to provide a secure fixation in the majority of ankle fractures, but the use of these implants showed unsatisfactory results in unstable and comminuted fractures.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedics and Traumatology, Helsinki University Central Hospital, Finland.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Pelto-Vasenius
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Hirvensalo
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Vasenius
authors.forename: E K
authors.initials: EK
authors.lastname: Partio
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Böstman
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Rokkanen
mesh_terms: D000042:Absorption; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D016512:Ankle Injuries / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D001672:Biocompatible Materials / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000378:metabolism; D001673:Biodegradation, Environmental; D001858:Bone Nails; D001863:Bone Screws; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D005549:Foreign-Body Reaction / Q000209:etiology; D005593:Fracture Fixation, Internal / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000295:instrumentation*; D017102:Fracture Healing / Q000502:physiology; D050723:Fractures, Bone / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011091:Polyesters; D011100:Polyglycolic Acid; D011379:Prognosis; D011475:Prosthesis Failure; D019919:Prosthesis Implantation / Q000379:methods; D011859:Radiography; D012086:Reoperation; D012189:Retrospective Studies
chemical_list: D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D011091:Polyesters; D011100:Polyglycolic Acid; C033616:poly(lactide)