This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Add to Saved Citations Download to citation manager Request Permissions Request Reprints Add to My Marked Citations Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Citing Articles via Scopus Google Scholar Articles by WARIS, E. Articles by VASENIUS, J. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by WARIS, E. Articles by VASENIUS, J. Pubmed/NCBI databases Compound via MeSH Substance via MeSH Social Bookmarking                         What's this?

Use of Bioabsorbable Osteofixation Devices in the Hand

From the Institute of Biomedicine/Anatomy, Biomedicum Helsinki, University of Helsinki, Finland, Division of Plastic Surgery, Department of Surgery, Oulu University Hospital, Oulu, Finland, Institute of Biomaterials, Tampere University of Technology, Finland and Department of Hand Surgery, Helsinki University Central Hospital, Finland

Correspondence: Dr Eero Waris, MD, Institute of Biomedicine/Anatomy, Biomedicum Helsinki, University of Helsinki, P.O. Box 63, FIN-00014, Finland. Tel.: +358-9-191-25267; fax: +358-9-191-25261; E-mail: eero.waris{at}helsinki.fi

Bioabsorbable internal fixation by means of pins, tacks, screws and miniplates offers an alternative to metallic osteofixation for the stabilization of small bone fractures, osteotomies, ligament injuries and fusions in the hand. The advantages of using them include avoidance of metallic-implant-related long-term complications and a secondary removal operation. Currently the most commonly used devices are made of poly L-lactide (PLLA) and copolymers of polylactides (P(L/DL)LA) and polyglycolide (PLGA). In areas of mechanical stress, the use of ultra-high-strength self-reinforced devices is recommended. Biomechanical studies on fresh frozen bones have shown that the fixation rigidity achieved with self-reinforced devices approaches that of metallic osteofixation methods. The reliability of modern implants has been confirmed in several experimental and clinical studies.

Key Words: bioabsorbable • fixation • hand • self-reinforced

Journal of Hand Surgery (British and European Volume), Vol. 29, No. 6, 590-598 (2004)
DOI: 10.1016/J.JHSB.2004.02.005


CiteULike    Complore    Connotea    Del.icio.us    Digg    Reddit    Technorati    Twitter    What's this?