Bioabsorbable screw fixation for the treatment of ankle fractures.

Background: Self-reinforced poly(L/dL)lactide 70:30 (SR-PLA70) retains its strength in bone for 24 weeks, whereas self-reinforced poly-L-lactide (SR-PLLA) retains its strength for over 36 weeks. In this prospective randomized study, bioabsorbable 4.5-mm SR-PLA70 screws were compared with SR-PLLA screws in the treatment of displaced ankle fractures in adults.

Bone mineral density after removal of rigid plates from forearm fractures: preliminary report.

Bone mineral density (BMD) was measured on three occasions following removal of metal plates used to fixate diaphyseal forearm fractures in eight patients (mean age 38.5 years). At plate removal the mean BMD of the distal radius/ulna and the ulnar shaft sites were, respectively, 10.