title: Wound infections associated with absorbable or metallic devices used in the fixation of fractures, arthrodeses and osteotomies.
abstract: Totally absorbable internal fixation devices have been used in a total of 2114 operations for the treatment of fractures, arthrodeses and osteotomies at our department between November 1984 and December 1992. The infection rate was 3,5%, for pure polyglycolide (PGA) implants 4% and for pure polylactide (PLLA) implants 0,7%. When the fixation with absorbable implants was compared to that of metallic implants in another series the infection rates were 4% and 9%, respectively. This difference was due to technical reasons. Sinus formation due to a foreign body reaction was observed in 2,5% of 2114 cases and was subsequently infected in 20%.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedics and Traumatology, Helsinki University Central Hospital, Topeliuksenkatu 5, SF-00260, Helsinki, Finland.
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Sinisaari
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Pätiälä
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Böstman
authors.forename: E A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Mäkelä
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Hirvensalo
authors.forename: E K
authors.initials: EK
authors.lastname: Partio
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Törmälä
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Rokkanen