The effect of an intramedullary biodegradable self-reinforced polyglycolic acid implant on tubular bone. An experimental study on growing dogs.

The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of intramedullary self-reinforced polyglycolic acid (SR-PGA) implant to the femoral bone growth in a growing dog by using radiographic, microradiographic, oxytetracycline-fluorescence, histological, polariscopical and histomorphometric studies. Intramedullary reaming and SR-PGA implant did not cause any longitudinal overgrowth phenomenon, but resulted in a slight increase in femoral neck-angle. The bone histology showed normal features and blood cell counts were within normal limits.