[Treatment of intra-articular fracture with absorbable screws and rods]

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

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.

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%.

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.