Redisplacement after ankle osteosynthesis with absorbable implants

A total of 1202 fractures of the ankle were treated with absorbable implants made of polyglycolide/polylactide copolymer or self-reinforced polyglycolide and/or self-reinforced polylactide between November 5, 1984, and January 12, 1994. A redisplacement after fixation was diagnosed in 30 patients (2.5%). The redisplacement occurred in 8 of 934 (0.9%) simple ankle fractures and in 22 of 268 (8.2%) severer ankle fractures. A breakage or loosening of the absorbable implant was verified at reoperation in 8 cases and was suspected in another 9. A technical failure was the main reason in 13 cases. A reoperation was performed for 25 patients. The absorbable implants seem to provide a secure fixation in the majority of ankle fractures, but the use of these implants showed unsatisfactory results in unstable and comminuted fractures.