[Treatment of intra-articular fracture with absorbable screws and rods].
OBJECTIVE
To assess the treatment effect of intra-articular fracture with absorbable screws and rods.


METHODS
From June 1998 to August 2004, 35 patients with intra-articular fracture were treated by absorbable screws and rods made of self-reinforced polyglycolic acid (SR-PGA) and self-reinforced poly-L-Lactic acid (SR-PLLA). Of 35 patients, 30 were males and 5 were females (aged from 4 to 62 years). All cases had intra-articular or periarticular fracture. The interval between injury and operation was 3 hours to 29 days. Fracture were fixed with full thread screws of SR-PGA in 9 cases, with tensile screws of SR-PLLA in 26 cases, with rods of SR-PLLA in 15 cases. Bone traction or plaster external fixation were carried out postoperatively.


RESULTS
The patients were followed from 3 months to 60 months with an average of 28 months. The wounds healed by first intention, and the healing time of bone was 1-3 months. No dislocation, infection and local effusion occurred. Functional recovery was satisfactory. According to AASO articular function standard, the results were excellent in 26 cases, good in 7 cases, fair in 1 case, and poor in 1 case; the total excellent and good rate was 94.3%.


CONCLUSIONS
Internal fixation of absorbable screws and rods are a perfect procedure in treating intra-articular and periarticular fracture, which can avoid the pain of taking out internal fixation materials because of second operation.
Department of Orthopedics, Second Affiliated Hospital, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou Guangdong 515041, P R China. wjguowu@yahoo.com.cn
Wenjian
W
Guo
Ke
K
Liu
Guilu
G
Zhuang
Zefeng
Z
Chen
Tianming
T
Guo
D020341:Absorbable Implants; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001858:Bone Nails; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D005593:Fracture Fixation, Internal / Q000379:methods; D050723:Fractures, Bone / Q000601:surgery*; D006621:Hip Joint; D006801:Humans; D016268:Internal Fixators; D007596:Joints / Q000293:injuries*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011100:Polyglycolic Acid
D011100:Polyglycolic Acid