Vet Comp Orthop Traumatol 1990; 03(04): 123-129
DOI: 10.1055/s-0038-1636496
Original Research
Schattauer GmbH

Fixation of Trochanteric Osteotomies in Laboratory Beagles with Absorbable Screws of Polylactic Acid

J. E. Räihä
1   From the Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, 00580 Helsinki, Finland
,
M. Parchman
2   From the Department of Clinical Sciences, New York State College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA
,
L. Krook
3   From the Department of Pathology, New York State College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA
,
S. Vainionpää
4   From the Maria Hospital, 00180 Helsinki, Finland
,
M. Mero
1   From the Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, 00580 Helsinki, Finland
,
P. Rokkanen
5   From the Department of Orthopaedics and Traumatology, Helsinki University Central Hospital, 00260 Helsinki, Finland
,
P. Törmälä
6   From the Biomaterials Laboratory, University of Technology, POB 527, 33101 Tampere, Finland
› Institutsangaben
Weitere Informationen

Publikationsverlauf

Received for publication 15. Juli 1990

Publikationsdatum:
09. Februar 2018 (online)

Summary

An absorbable, biocompatible 4.5 mm screw, with a matrix of polyright-left-isomeric lactic acid of equal amounts of isomers and fibres of poly-left-isomeric lactic acid comprising a self-reinforced structure, was tested for fixation of a trochanteric osteotomy on six laboratory Beagles. The proximal femurs were harvested two months later and embedded in methylmethacrylate for histological, microradiographic, and fluorescence evaluation. Five specimens showed bony union and one trochanter was ununited. The coarse thread configuration and poor torque strength of the screw required exaggerated tapping of the screw hole resulting in a loose fit for the implant. An improved screw could be clinically appealing and a secondary removal operation would then be omitted.

To test a totally absorbable polylactic acid screw with good initial in vitro strength values a trochanteric osteotomy was fixed with this implant in six laboratory Beagles. Radiographic, microradiographic, fluorescence and histological evaluations indicated healing in five dogs at two months. Nonunion in one dog was attributed to diastasis between the fragments. The strength and strength retention of the screw were considered adequate, but the poor torsional strength made implantation of the screw tedious.

 
  • References

  • 1 Rokkanen P, Vainionpää S, Törmälä P, Kilpikari J, Böstman O, Vihtonen K, Laiho J, Tamminmäki M. Biodegradable implants in fracture fixation: Early results in treatment of fractures of the ankle. Lancet 1985; 1 (8443): 1422-4.
  • 2 Betts C W. Pelvic fractures. In: Textbook of small animal surgery. vol 2. Slatter D H. (ed.). WB Saunders Co; Philadelphia: 1985: 2138-53.
  • 3 Rokkanen P, Böstman O, Hirvensalo E, Vainionpää S, Törmälä P. Three years audit of biodegradable osteofixation in orthopaedic surgery. Acta Orthop Scand 1988; 59 (05) 18.
  • 4 Hirvensalo E, Böstman O, Vainionpää S, Törmälä P, Rokkanen P. Biodegradable fixation in Chevron osteotomy for hallus valgus. Acta Orthop Scand 1988; 59 (05) 71.
  • 5 Hirvensalo E, Böstman O, Vainionpää S, Törmälä P, Rokkanen P. Biodegradable fixation in intra-articular fractures of the elbow joint. Acta Orthop Scand 1988; 59 (05) 78.
  • 6 Böstman O, Hirvensalo E, Vainionpää S, Mäkelä E A, Vihtonen K, Törmälä P, Rokkanen P. Ankle fractures treated using biodegradable internal fixation. Clin Orthop 1989; 238: 195-203.
  • 7 Hirvensalo E. Fracture fixation with biodegradable rods: forty-one cases of severe ankle fractures. Acta Orthop Scand 1989; 60 (05) 601-6.
  • 8 Axelson P, Räihä J, Mero M, Vainionpää S, Törmälä P, Rokkanen P. The use of a biodegradable implant in fracture fixation: a review of the literature and a report of two clinical cases. J Small Anim Pract 1988; 29: 249-55.
  • 9 Axelson P, Räihä J, Sittnikow K, Skutnabb K, Mero M, Vainionpää S, Törmälä P, Rokkanen P. The use of biodegradable implants in the fixation of small animal cancellous bone fractures. Acta Vet Scand. (in press).
  • 10 Axelson P, Mäkelä A, Vainionpää S, Mero M, Rokkanen P. Biodegradable implants in the fixation of physeal fractures in cats and dogs. Acta Vet Scand. (in press).
  • 11 Axelson P. Fixation of cancellous bone and physeal fractures in dogs and cats. A comparison of the use of self-reinforced biodegradable devices to the use of metallic devices and external fixation. Acta Vet Scand. (in press).
  • 12 Böstman O, Mäkelä E A, Törmälä P, Rokkanen P. Transphyseal fracture fixation using biodegradable pins in children. J Bone Surg. (in press).
  • 13 Törmälä P, Böstman O, Vainionpää S, Hirvensalo E, Pätiälä H, Partio E, Rokkanen P. Biofix internal fixation devices. Workshop training manual. 1989 5/1-5/2.
  • 14 Gay B, Bucher H. Animal experiment investigations using absorbable polydioxanone (PDS) screws. Unfallchirurg 1985; 88: 126-33.
  • 15 Vert M, Christel P, Garreau H, Audion M, Chanavaz M, Chabot F. Totally bioresorbable composites systems for internal fixation of bone fractures. Polymers in medicine II: Biomedical and pharmaceutical applications. 2nd international conference papers. Capri, Italy: 1986: 63-275.
  • 16 Gerlach K L, Krause H-R, Eitenmüller J. Use of absorbable osteosynthesis material for mandibular fracture treatment of dogs. In: Biomaterials and clinical applications. Pizzoferrato A, Marchetti P G, Ravaglioli A, Lee A J C. (eds.). Elsevier Science Publishers B. V.; Amsterdam: 1987: 459-64.
  • 17 Leenslag J W, Pennings A J, Bos R R M, Rozema F R, Boering G. Resorbable materials of poly(L-lactide). VI. Plates and screws for internal fracture fixation. Biomaterials 1987; 8: 70-3.
  • 18 Bos R R M, Boering G, Rozema F R, Leenslag J W. Resorbable poly(L-lactide) plates and screws for the fixation of zygomatic fractures. J Oral Maxillofac Surg 1987; 45: 751-3.
  • 19 Törmälä P, Böstman O, Vainionpää S, Hirvensalo E, Pätiälä H, Partio E, Rokkanen P. Biofix internal fixation devices. Workshop training manual. 1988. 9/26.
  • 20 Törmälä P, Pellinen M, Pohjoncn T, Laiho J, Tamminmäki M, Vainionpää S, Rokkanen P. Totally biodegradable self-reinforced rods and screws for internal fixation of bone fractures. Acta Orthop Scand 1988; 59 (05) 17.
  • 21 Partio E, Hirvensalo E, Böstman O, Vihtonen K, Vainionpää S, Pätiälä H, Törmälä P, Rokkanen P. Biodegradable screws – in the treatment of ankle fractures. A prospective clinical study of 131 patients. European society for biomaterials. 8th European conference on biomaterials. Heidelberg, West Germany: September 7–9 1989
  • 22 Suuronen R, Vainionpää S, Mero M, Partio E, Vasenius J, Vihtonen K, Törmälä P, Rokkanen P, Oikarinen V. Fixation of mandibular condyle osteotomy with self-reinforced polylactide screws. Experimental study in sheep. European society for biomaterials. 8th European conference on biomaterials. Heidelberg, West Germany: September 7–9 1989
  • 23 Partio E, Hirvensalo E, Böstman O, Vihtonen K, Vainionpää S, Pätiälä H, Törmälä P, Rokkanen P. Fixation of injuries of upper extremities with biodegradable screws. European society for biomaterials. 8th European conference on biomaterials. Heidelberg, West Germany: September 7–9 1989