title: A long-term clinical study on drawn poly-L-lactide implants in orthopaedic surgery.
abstract: We have developed an ultra-high-strength drawn poly (L-lactide) (PLLA) with a bending strength of 240 MPa. Seventy-four patients (80 cases) who were treated with this PLLA implant were enrolled in this study. Their ages ranged from 14 to 78 years, and the follow-up period ranged from 4 to 9 years (mean: 5.3 years). Bony union was obtained in all cases. Osteolytic changes were observed in 12 cases (15%) but no late aseptic swelling was noted. Both MRI and roentgenographic findings indicated that the spaces where the PLLA implants were located had not been replaced with bony tissue.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Kyoto University, Japan.
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Matsusue
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Nakamura
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Iida
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Shimizu
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D001858:Bone Nails; D001863:Bone Screws; D016025:Bone Transplantation; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005593:Fracture Fixation, Internal; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010027:Osteotomy; D011091:Polyesters; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013997:Time Factors