REDISPLACEMENT AFTER ANKLE OSTEOSYNTHESIS WITH ABSORBABLE IMPLANTS

A total of 1202 fractures of the ankle were treated with absorbable im plants made of polyglycolide/polylactide copolymer or self-reinforced polyglycolide and/or self-reinforced polylactide between November 5, 1 984, and January 12, 1994. A redisplacement after fixation was diagnos ed in 30 patients (2.5%). The redisplacement occurred in 8 of 934 (0.9 %) simple ankle fractures and in 22 of 268 (8.2%) severer ankle fractu res. A breakage or loosening of the absorbable implant was verified at reoperation in 8 cases and was suspected in another 9. A technical fa ilure was the main reason in 13 cases. A reoperation was performed for 25 patients. The absorbable implants seem to provide a secure fixatio n in the majority of ankle fractures, but the use of these implants sh owed unsatisfactory results in unstable and comminuted fractures.