Orientruded polylactide based body-absorbable osteosynthesis devices: a short review

A new process 'orietrusion' has been developed to impart a high degree of molecular orientation into polylactide. Mechanical tests showed that this process increased the initial strength of the high molecular weight polylactide by 690%. Orthopaedic osteosynthesis devices that were made from this oriented polyactide were shown to be biocompatible and body-adsorbable. Screws that were made from this material were shown to be efficacious in canine calcaneous and femoral osteotomy models. The orientruded polylactide screws were shown to be efficacious in the fixation of the human malleolar fractures.