[Resorbable implants for refixation of osteochondral fragments in joint surfaces]

Resorbable pins made of solid polydioxanone (PDS) were tested for refixation of osteochondral fragments. In both medial femoral condyles of sheep osteochondral fragments were chiselled and refixed by 3 PDS pins. After 3 months the sheep were sacrificed and healing of the fragments investigated histologically and biomechanically. Fragment dislocation was not seen in any of the cases and the cartilage surface could be described as normal. The strength of the bone healing zone reached 80% of the strength of the normal bone. The contact surface between fragment and subchondral bone showed complete bony healing. Only the border of the cartilage flake was still visible. The PDS pins had not been completely biodegraded after 3 months.