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Biodegradable implant materials in fracture fixation
O E Illi1, H Weigum, F Misteli
1Department of Surgery, University Children's Hospital, Zürich, Switzerland.
Clinical Materials
|December 10, 1991
Summary
Biodegradable screws offer a viable alternative to traditional metallic implants in pediatric traumatology. This study demonstrates their effectiveness in bone fracture fixation in a growing skeleton, showing comparable results to metallic screws.
Area of Science:
- Orthopedic surgery
- Biomaterials science
- Pediatric traumatology
Background:
- Current pediatric traumatology often involves conservative treatment or metallic implants.
- There is a need for alternative fixation methods, particularly biodegradable options.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the efficacy of biodegradable polylactic acid (PLA) screws as an alternative to metallic screws for osteosynthesis in a growing skeleton.
- To compare biodegradable screw fixation with conservative treatment methods.
Main Methods:
- A novel screw design with an indwelling driver was developed to mitigate implant fracture points.
- A comparative study was conducted on 48 calves, involving conservative treatment, PLA biodegradable screws, and AO type metallic screws for metacarpal bone osteotomy.
- Clinical, radiological, and histological assessments were performed from 1 to 6 weeks postoperatively.
Main Results:
- Biodegradable PLA screws and metallic screws yielded comparable good to excellent results in bone fracture fixation.
- Conservative treatment was successful in only one-third of the cases.
- The study confirmed the feasibility of biodegradable osteosynthesis in the growing skeleton.
Conclusions:
- Biodegradable screws, particularly PLA, are a feasible and effective option for osteosynthesis in pediatric traumatology.
- Further research is needed to optimize the resorption time of biodegradable materials for clinical application in children (target 3-6 months).