[Tension band osteosynthesis of resorbable material]

Tension-band osteosynthesis is a simple and well-known procedure applied in the surgical treatment of fractures. This type of osteosynthesis does nonetheless have some disadvantages, e.g., irritation of the skin and fistulization at the point where the metal cerclage bends, that can make removal necessary mostly under full anaesthesia. Since 1987 we have replaced the metal cerclage in 36 tension-band osteosyntheses (21 fractures of the medial malleolus, 6 lateral malleolar fractures, 4 patella, 4 olecranon and 1 distal clavicular fracture) with the resorbable suture material Vicryl No 2. Our results were good: there have been no skin problems at all and there are several advantages.