Biodegradable implants as intramedullary nails. A survey of recent studies and an introduction to their use.

The high stiffness of metallic implants often requires a removal of the implant through a second operation, after fracture healing has occurred, to prevent disuse osteoporosis from occurring. An absorbable implant, lending sufficient strength and stiffness for support of the fracture during the healing period, would then gradually decay, and shift acting forces over to the healing bone. This paper presents a background to the development of such an implant of self-reinforced polylactic acid, and some recent results from different studies using these rod shaped implants for intramedullary nailing of both experimental and clinical fractures on animals. A short description of the operational technique for use of these implants is also given.