Rotational acetabular osteotomy using biodegradable internal fixation

We used biodegradable poly-L-lactide screws in rotational acetabular osteot omy in 41 hips of 41 patients, and studied the complications after an avera ge follow-up of 4.9 years (range 1.0-7.7 years). There were 39 females and 2 males, their average age at the time of the operation was 32 years (range 12-55 years). A small subcutaneous abscess appeared around the non-absorba ble sutures in 2 patients after surgery, There was 1 case of thrombophlebit is and 1 of local dermatitis. The small subcutaneous abscess resolved after the removal of the suture material in the 2 cases, and the thrombophlebiti s resolved with aspirin. The local dermatitis persisted but was cured by lo cal steroid therapy over 5.8 years. The incidence of local dermatitis after the use of biodegradable implants should be further investigated.