Treatment of radial head fractures with absorbable polyglycolide pins: a study on the security of the fixation in 38 cases.

Between 1986 and 1992, 43 patients with a displaced Mason type II or type III fracture of the radial head were treated by open reduction and internal fixation using absorbable polyglycolide pins. Five patients were lost to the follow-up. The clinical results were reviewed in 38 patients with an average follow-up time of 27 months. There were 19 type II and 19 type III fractures. The functional results were excellent or good in 36 patients (95%). A postoperative redisplacement was seen in one patient. Use of absorbable polyglycolide pins appear to be a feasible alternative method for the treatment of displaced radial head fractures. The results were at least equal to those obtained with metallic implants, but absorbable devices need not be removed. A complication unique to the absorbable devices is a transient local abacterial tissue reaction. The rate of tissue reaction has decreased lately, and in this study no adverse reactions from the implants occurred.