title: Long-term results of wrist arthrodeses fixed with self-reinforced polylevolactic acid implants in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Implants made of self-reinforcing polylevolactic acid (SR-PLLA) have been successfully used in arthrodeses of patients with rheumatoid arthritis. No lone-term evaluation on bioabsorbable fixation in patients with rheumatoid arthritis has been published so far.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this study 21 wrist fusions were performed on 18 patients with rheumatoid arthritis by using SR-PLLA rods as fixation devices. The follow-up time was 3-8 years (mean 5.4 years).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The results showed one non-union but no infections or problems associated with the bioabsorbable implants used.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  According to this study, fixation of wrist arthrodesis in patients with rheumatoid arthritis can be performed by using SR-PLLA implants with favourable results. The benefit of this method is the avoidance of the removal operation of fixation devices.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedics and Traumatology, Helsinki University Central Hospital, Finland. nina.voutilainen@hus.fi
authors.forename: N H
authors.initials: NH
authors.lastname: Voutilainen
authors.forename: H V
authors.initials: HV
authors.lastname: Pätiälä
authors.forename: T J
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Juutilainen
authors.forename: P U
authors.initials: PU
authors.lastname: Rokkanen
mesh_terms: D020341:Absorbable Implants; D000328:Adult; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D001174:Arthrodesis; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D011859:Radiography; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014955:Wrist Joint / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*