Osteoarthritis of the ankle after foreign-body reaction to absorbable pins and screws: a three- to nine-year follow-up study.
Between 1985 and 1994, 1223 patients with malleolar fractures of the ankle were treated by open reduction and internal fixation with absorbable pins and screws, of whom 74 (6.1%) had an obvious inflammatory foreign-body reaction to the implants. Of these 74, ten later developed moderate to severe osteoarthritis of the ankle despite no evidence of incongruity of the articular surface. The implants used in these patients were made from polyglycolide, polylactide or glycolide-lactide copolymer. The joint damage seemed to be due to polymeric debris entering the articular cavity through an osteolytic extension of an implant track. The ten patients had a long clinical course which included a vigorous local foreign-body reaction, synovial irritation and subsequent degeneration. At a follow-up of three to nine years, ankle arthrodesis had been necessary in two patients and is being considered for another two. The incidence of these changes in the whole series was 0.8%, which is not high, but awareness of this possible late complication is essential.
Böstman
O M
OM
Department of Orthopaedic and Trauma Surgery, Helsinki University Hospital, Finland.
D000042:Absorption; D000328:Adult; D000843:Ankle Joint / Q000473:pathology*; D001672:Biocompatible Materials / Q000009:adverse effects; D001858:Bone Nails / Q000009:adverse effects*; D001863:Bone Screws / Q000009:adverse effects*; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D017577:Cutaneous Fistula / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D005360:Fibula / Q000293:injuries; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005549:Foreign-Body Reaction / Q000150:complications* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D005593:Fracture Fixation, Internal / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000295:instrumentation; D017102:Fracture Healing; D050723:Fractures, Bone / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D019344:Lactic Acid / Q000009:adverse effects; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010003:Osteoarthritis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology*; D011091:Polyesters / Q000009:adverse effects; D011100:Polyglycolic Acid / Q000009:adverse effects; D000077182:Polylactic Acid-Polyglycolic Acid Copolymer; D011108:Polymers / Q000009:adverse effects; D011859:Radiography; D012307:Risk Factors; D013585:Synovitis / Q000209:etiology; D013978:Tibial Fractures / Q000601:surgery; D013997:Time Factors
D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D011091:Polyesters; D011108:Polymers; D000077182:Polylactic Acid-Polyglycolic Acid Copolymer; D011100:Polyglycolic Acid; D019344:Lactic Acid; C033616:poly(lactide)