Complications with the use of bioabsorbable pins in the foot

The authors present a brief history and overview of the usage of bioabsorbable pins in Podiatric Surgery. A retrospective study of 49 patients who had been implanted with Biofix pins is presented. The number of patients who displayed reactions to the pin sufficient to require subsequent surgical intervention was found to be 10.2%. Three specific cases are presented in detail. All of the patients who displayed reactions were over 40 years of age and the majority were between 55 and 60 years of age. A discussion of these facts is presented with the authors' views on why bioabsorbable pin reactions may be expected to occur in older age groups.