Flexor tendon healing within the tendon sheath using bioabsorbable poly-L/D-lactide 96/4 suture. A histological in vivo study with rabbits.

The bioabsorbable poly-L/D-lactide (PLDLA) 96/4 suture has good biomechanical and knot properties, and sufficient tensile strength half-life for flexor tendon repair. In the present study, the biocompatibility of PLDLA suture was compared with that of coated braided polyester suture in the rabbit flexor digitorum profundus tendon repaired within the tendon sheath. Postoperative unrestricted active mobilization was allowed.

Bioabsorbable poly-L/D-lactide (PLDLA) 96/4 triple-stranded bound suture in the modified Kessler repair: an ex vivo static and cyclic tensile testing study in a porcine extensor tendon model.

Previously the biomechanical properties of the bioabsorbable poly-L: /D: -lactide (PLDLA) 96/4 suture were found suitable for flexor tendon repair. In this study, three PLDLA suture strands were bound together parallel to each other side-by-side to form a triple-stranded bound suture and the modified Kessler tendon repair was performed. The biomechanical properties of the PLDLA repair in porcine extensor tendons ex vivo were investigated with static and cyclic tensile testing.

Enveloping bioabsorbable polyglycolide membrane and immobilization in Achilles tendon repair: A comparative experimental study on rabbits.

Using qualitative and histoquantitative methods, we investigated the effect of immobilization versus nonimmobilization on the biodegradation process, implant-tissue interaction, and scar formation after enveloping a rejoined rabbit Achilles tendon with a self-reinforced polyglycolide (SR-PGA) membrane. The soleus and gastrocnemius tendons of the right hind legs of 40 rabbits were transected. After suturing the ends, the seam was enveloped with the bioabsorbable membrane.

Fixation of experimental osteotomies with bioabsorbable SR-polylactide-polyglycolide (80/20) polymeric rods.

Self-reinforced polylactide-polyglycolide (80/20) composite rods, 2 mm in diameter and 36 mm in length, were implanted into the dorsal subcutaneous tissue of 20 rabbits. Osteotomies of the distal femur were fixed with these rods (2x15 mm) in the rabbits. The follow-up times varied from 3 to 104 weeks.

The strength of the 6-strand modified Kessler repair performed with triple-stranded or triple-stranded bound suture in a porcine extensor tendon model: an ex vivo study.

Purpose: To investigate the biomechanic influence of triple-stranded sutures and the spatial arrangement of the strands on the strength of the 6-strand Pennington modified Kessler repair.

Methods: In the present ex vivo study of pig extensor tendons 2 techniques were used: (1) triple-stranded suture (3 suture strands in the same needle) and (2) triple-stranded bound suture (3 suture strands in the same needle that were bound together, parallel to each other, side by side). The repairs were subjected to static tensile testing.

The effect of low-intensity pulsed ultrasound on bone healing in SR-PLLA rod fixed experimental distal femur osteotomy in rat.

The effects of low-intensity pulsed ultrasound (30 mW/cm2) were investigated in experimental cancellous bone fracture healing in bioabsorbable self-reinforced poly-L-lactide (SR-PLLA) rod fixed distal femur osteotomy in rats. A transverse transcondylar osteotomy was fixed with one SR-PLLA rod in 32 male Wistar rats of the age of 20 weeks. Half of the rats had a daily 20-min ultrasound exposure for three weeks.

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.

The impact of polyglycolide membrane on a tendon after surgical rejoining. A histological and histomorphometric analysis in rabbits.

Tissue response to self-reinforced polyglycolide (SR-PGA) membranes surrounding rejoined rabbit tendons was compared with tissue response to nonenveloped rejoined tendons, with special focus on scar formation and SR-PGA membrane biodegradation process. Both hind legs of 20 skeletally mature rabbits were operated on by transecting the plantaris longus tendons and rejoining the ends with sutures. The right side seams were enveloped with bioabsorbable SR-PGA membranes, while the left sides served as noncovered controls.

Material and knot properties of braided polyester (Ticron) and bioabsorbable poly-L/D-lactide (PLDLA) 96/4 sutures.

The purpose of the present study was to investigate in vitro the biomechanical material and knot properties and histomorphometrical knot properties of 3-0 braided polyester suture (Ticron) and bioabsorbable poly-L/D-lactide (PLDLA) 96/4 suture. In Ticron five throws are needed to form a secure knot, and the 1 = 1 = 1 = 1 = 1 and the 2 = 1 = 1 = 1 configurations are recommended. For PLDLA several granny and square knots formed a secure knot, but the 1 = 1 and 1 = 1 = 1 knots were the best.

No long-term effects of ultrasound therapy on bioabsorbable screw-fixed lateral malleolar fracture.

Background And Aims: The present study was initiated to evaluate the long-term effects of low-intensity ultrasound therapy on bioabsorbable screw-fixed lateral malleolar fractures, which has not been studied earlier.

Patients And Methods: The study design was prospective, randomized, double-blinded, and placebo-controlled. Sixteen dislocated lateral malleolar fractures were fixed with one bioabsorbable self-reinforced poly-L-lactide screw.

Effect of ultrasound therapy on bone healing of lateral malleolar fractures of the ankle joint fixed with bioabsorbable screws.

Background: We investigated the effect of low-intensity ultrasound on bone healing in bioabsorbable self-reinforced poly-L: -lactic acid (SR-PLLA) screw-fixed lateral malleolar fractures. The study design was prospective, randomized, double-blind, and placebo-controlled.

Methods: A total of 22 fractures were fixed with one SR-PLLA screw.

Fixation of distal femoral osteotomies with self-reinforced poly(L/DL)lactide 70:30 and self-reinforced poly(L/DL)lactide 70: 30/bioactive glass composite rods. an experimental study on rabbits.

Two self-reinforced poly(L/DL)lactide 70:30 or self-reinforced poly (L/DL)lactide 70:30/ bioactive glass (SR-P(L/DL)LA/bioactive glass) composite rods (2 mm x 40 mm) were implanted into the dorsal subcutaneous tissue and osteotomies of the distal femur were fixed with these rods (2 mm x 26 mm) in 36 rabbits. The follow-up times varied from 3 to 100 weeks. After the animals were killed, three-point bending and shear tests and molecular weight measurements were performed for subcutaneously placed rods.

The effect of low intensity ultrasound and bioabsorbable self-reinforced poly-L-lactide screw fixation on bone in lateral malleolar fractures.

Introduction: There are no previous reports of low intensity pulsed ultrasound therapy in connection with bioabsorbable fracture fixation. In this randomised, prospective, double-blind and placebo-controlled study, the effects of ultrasound on bone mineral density and bone healing were examined in lateral malleolar fractures fixed with a bioabsorbable self-reinforced poly-L-lactide screw (SR-PLLA).

Materials And Methods: Thirty adult patients with SR-PLLA screw-fixed lateral malleolar fracture underwent ultrasound therapy 20 min daily for 6 weeks.

Coralline hydroxyapatite reinforced with polylactide fibres in lumbar interbody implantation.

Porous hydroxyapatite HA blocks reinforced with poly-l/dl-lactide fibres were used to maintain the lumbar disc space and to start to create intercorporeal fusion in 23 growing pigs. In four pigs two emptied non adjacent disc spaces were left open. After 3, 6, 12 and 16 weeks the implanted disc blocks were studied radiologically, histologically, histomorphometrically, microradiographically, and with oxytetracycline fluorescence.

A comparative analysis of the biomechanical behaviour of five flexor tendon core sutures.

Five core suture techniques were compared by static tensile testing in vitro. Fifty porcine tendons were used. The core sutures were performed with 3-0 or 4-0 braided polyester suture (Ticron) and the over-and-over running peripheral sutures with 6-0 monofilament polypropylene (Prolene).

Bone remodelling in the pores and around load bearing transchondral isoelastic porous-coated glassy carbon implants: experimental study in rabbits.

Cylinders of porous-coated glassy carbon were implanted into drill holes made through the articular surface of the medial condyle of both tibiae of ten rabbits for six and 12 weeks. Bone ingrowth and remodelling was examined by radiographic, histologic, oxytetracycline-fluorescence and microradiographic methods. Bone ingrowth into pores and load bearing implants was seen by all examination methods.

Strength retention of drawn self-reinforced polyglycolide rods and fixation properties of the distal femoral osteotomies with these rods. An experimental study on rats.

Drawn self-reinforced polyglycolide (SR-PGA) rods, Ø 2 mm and 26 mm long, were implanted in the dorsal subcutaneus tissue of 16 rats. Osteotomies of the distal femur were fixed with SR-PGA rods (2 mm by 15 mm) in another 38 rats. The follow-up times varied from one week to one year.

Shear-load carrying capacities of the distal rat femora after osteotomy fixed with self-reinforced polyglycolic acid and poly-L-lactic acid pins.

Distal femora of 40 rats were osteotomized and fixed with self-reinforced polyglycolide (SR-PGA) and self-reinforced polylactide (SR-PLLA) pin 2.0 mm in diameter and 15 mm in length. The shear-load carrying capacities of the osteotomized bones were compared with each other and with the intact control rat distal femora of the same age of 20 pairs.

Material properties of absorbable self-reinforced fibrillated poly-96L/4 D-lactide (SR-PLA96) rods; a study in vitro and in vivo.

A study was carried out to investigate changes in mechanical properties and degradation of self-reinforced fibrillated poly-96L/4D-lactide (SR-PLA96) rods in vitro and in vivo. The viscosity-average molecular weight, Mv, of the intact sterile (gamma irradiated) rods was around 50,000 g mol(-1). The SR-PLA96 rods of diameter 1.

Fixation of distal femoral osteotomies with self-reinforced polymer/bioactive glass rods: an experimental study on rabbits.

Two self-reinforced poly(desamino tyrosyl-tyrosine ethyl ester carbonate), poly(DTE carbonate) or self-reinforced poly(DTE carbonate)/bioactive glass rods, (2 mm by 40 mm) were implanted into the dorsal subcutaneous tissue and osteotomies of the distal femur were fixed with these rods (2 mm by 26 mm) in 36 rabbits. The follow-up times varied from three to 100 weeks. After sacrifice, three-point bending and shear tests and molecular weight measurements were performed for subcutaneously placed rods.

In vitro and in vivo behavior of self-reinforced bioabsorbable polymer and self-reinforced bioabsorbable polymer/bioactive glass composites.

The aim of this study was to investigate the in vitro and in vivo properties and degradation of (1) self-reinforced (SR) lactide copolymer, P(L/DL)LA 70:30, and (2) SR composites of the same polylactide and bioactive glass 13-93. The following three polymer and polymer-bioactive glass samples were studied: SR-PLA70, SR-PLA70 + BaG15s, and SR-PLA70 + BaG20c. In vitro behavior was studied in a phosphate-buffered saline for 87 weeks at 37 degrees +/- 1 degrees C and a pH of 7.

Intramedullary fixation of femoral cortical osteotomies with interlocked biodegradable self-reinforced poly-96L/4D-lactide (SR-PLA96) nails.

Femoral diaphyseal osteotomies of adult sheep were fixed with intramedullary (i.m.) biodegradable self-reinforced poly-96L/4D-lactide (SR-PLA96) nails (Phi 10.

Absorbable polyglycolide and polylactide devices for fracture fixation.

The use of absorbable internal fracture fixation devices instead of conventional metallic ones abolishes the need for subsequent implant removal procedures. Absorbable fracture fixation devices have been increasingly used during the past decade. Approximately 150,000 patients in many countries have already been treated with such implants.

Arthrodesis of the wrist with bioabsorbable fixation in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

Twenty-four wrist arthrodeses were performed on 18 patients with rheumatoid arthritis using a bioabsorbable self-reinforced poly-L-lactide rod as the fixation device. There was one nonunion which required a re-operation and two nonunions which did not need further treatment. The position of the arthrodesis was ulnar deviation and extension in most patients, and there was high patient satisfaction with 21 of the 24 wrists and satisfactory pain relief in 22 of the 24 wrists.

Use of hydroxylapatite/ polymer-composite in facial bone augmentation. An experimental study.

On purpose to achieve better and more controlled alveolar ridge augmentation, biodegradable polyglycolide (PGA) curved implants with porous, particulate hydroxylapatite (HA) were developed to be used in an experimental augmentation in sheep mandible. Prior to surgery curved PGA implants were loaded with particulate HA with help of a rather fast degrading adhesive, polyglycolide/polylactide (PGA/PLA) copolymer. This augmentation device was inserted into the ridge using a slight modification of the tunnelling technique.