Fracture fixation with biodegradable rods. Forty-one cases of severe ankle fractures.

In a prospective study of 41 patients, severe ankle fractures of Lauge-Hansen types SE III-IV, PA III, and PE III-IV were treated by open reduction and internal fixation using biodegradable self-reinforced polyglycolide cylinder-shaped rods. Disruption of the distal tibiofibular syndesmosis and/or fracture of the posterior tibial margin requiring reduction and fixation were the inclusion criteria for the study. The mean follow-up time after operation was 16 (12-32) months. Two failures of fixation necessitated reoperation. A secondary displacement of 1-2 mm of the lateral malleolus occurred in 3 cases. Transient accumulation of soluble polyglycolide mass complicated the course in 3 cases, but did not influence the radiographic or the functional result. Function became good in 30 patients. The advantage of the biodegradable implants is that they do not need to be removed at secondary operations.