The use of a resorbable augmentation device to secure plating of osteoporotic bones. An in vitro study

Osteotomies in porotic human cadaveric humeri were fixed with metallic plates and screws in 3 experimental groups. In group I, osteotomies of the 3 arbitrarily chosen humeri were plated without reinforcement. The osteotomies of the contralateral 3 humeri were plated after reinforcement with a poly(L-lactide) augmentation device. In group II, osteotomies on one side were plated without reinforcement, but those of the contralateral humeri were plated after reinforcement with methylmethacrylate. In group III, the osteotomies of 3 humeri were plated and reinforced with poly(L-lactide) and in the 3 contralateral humeri were plated after reinforcement with methylmethacrylate. The pullout strength for screws from bones augmented with poly(L-lactide) was identical to those where methylmethacrylate had been used. The bones with poly(L-lactide) augmentation had a higher torsional stiffness than those with methylmethacrylate cement and those which were not reinforced. Resorbable polymeric medullary augmentation devices can be used to enhance plating of osteoporotic bones.