BIORESORBABLE PINS AND SCREWS IN PEDIATRIC TRAUMATOLOGY

Bioresorbable implants are suited to the treatment of joint and shaft fractures in children. These conclusions were drawn from clinical and experimental investigations at the University of Heidelberg. Since 199 0 13 fractures, including 5 medial malleolus fractures, 2 retropatella flake fractures, 1 metacarpal fracture, 2 lateral condyle, 2 epicondy le fractures and a secondary dislocated forearm fracture were treated with BIOFIX pins. 11 of these cases were without complications. There was one case of infection, and due to material failure the stability w as insufficient in one case. In a post-mortem study torsional fracture s were produced in femora of children between 5 and 15 months. The fra ctures were then fixed with one resorbable screw and put under torsion al loading until the bone refractured. The post-fixation force (torsio nal) amounted to 77 % of the original fracture force, and the degree o f rotation at fracture was post-fixation 84 % of the original. The sta bility of bioresorbable screws in the treatment of femoral spiral frac tures in children can therefore be confirmed.