Bioabsorbable fixation in the treatment of proximal tibial osteotomies and fractures. A clinical study.

Background and aims: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the use of bioabsorbable implants in proximal tibia cancellous bone fixations in 28 patients.

Patients and methods: The implants used were self-reinforced polyglycolide (SR-PGA) or self-reinforced polylactide (SR-PLLA) screws or rods. In six patients a high tibial osteotomy and in 16 patients a proximal tibial plateau fracture were secured with these implants (cancellous bone fixations). In addition, four anterior tibial eminence avulsion fractures and two tibial tuberosity avulsions were fixed (avulsion fractures). The average follow-up time was 3.6 years.

Result and conclusions: In the cancellous bone fixations (15 patients at the follow-up) there were three excellent clinical results, five good, five moderate and two poor results; radiologically there were one excellent result, eight good, five moderate, and one poor result. In the avulsion fracture patients (four patients at the follow-up) there were two excellent and two good clinical results; radiologically all results were excellent. In four cancellous bone fixations redisplacement was noted. In all patients the functional score was 25.6/30 (Rasmussen 1973). The bioabsorbable implants can be used for fixation of proximal tibial cancellous bone osteotomies and fractures and avulsion fractures with good or moderate results.