A retrospective follow-up of ankle fracture patients treated with a biodegradable plate and screws.
BACKGROUND
Biodegradable fixation implants have been developed to avoid secondary hardware removal. The aim of this study was to retrospectively follow-up ankle fracture patients treated with a biodegradable plate and screws, and to evaluate the clinical outcome and occurrence of complications.


METHODS
Fifty-seven ankle fracture patients treated with biodegradable implants were invited, and a total of 50 were available to participate in this study. The follow-up included a review of each patient's medical records, evaluation of radiographs, fracture reduction classification, and functional scoring.


RESULTS
There were 36 lateral malleolar and 14 bimalleolar fractures. No perioperative complications occurred. Average follow-up time was 17 months. All fractures healed. Fracture alignment was classified as anatomical in 49 patients and good in 1 case. The mean Olerud and Molander functional ankle score at final follow-up was 86. Eight patients had postoperative complications. These included delayed wound healing in 1 case, 3 cases of deep-vein thrombosis, and 4 soft tissue reactions.


CONCLUSIONS
According to the results of this retrospective study, the biodegradable implants used yielded fracture healing and functional results comparable to those previously reported after conventional metal fixation.
Seinäjoki Central Hospital, Seinäjoki, Finland. arvo.kukk@netikka.fi
Arvo
A
Kukk
Janne T
JT
Nurmi
D020341:Absorbable Implants; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D016512:Ankle Injuries / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D001860:Bone Plates; D001863:Bone Screws; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005593:Fracture Fixation, Internal / Q000295:instrumentation*; D017102:Fracture Healing; D050723:Fractures, Bone / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011474:Prosthesis Design; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult