ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: To evaluate therapeutic effect and safety of poly DL-lactic bio-absorbable screws in the treatment of Pipkin fractures.METHODS: A total of 13 Patients of Pipkin fractures received treatment at the Department of Orthopaedics, Third People's Hospital of Wujiang City and Department of Orthopaedics, First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University from March 2003 to October 2007 were selected, including 10 males and 3 females, mean aged 30.5 years. Six of them had a Pipkin type Ⅰ fracture,4 had a Pipkin type Ⅱ fracture, and 3 patients had a Pipkin type Ⅳ fracture. In all the operative procedures, a dorsolateral Kocher-Langenbeck approach was used.RESULTS: After an average duration of 47.9 months follow-up, all fractures achieved complete bony healing. One patient had femoral head avascular necrosis and 1 had persistent hip pain, but no heterotopic ossification was observed. According to Harris hip score: Pipkin type I 85 points, type Ⅱ 90 points and type Ⅳ 77 points. According to the Thompson-Epstein hip scale, 3 patients were rated as excellent, 8 good, 1 fair, and 1 poor; the excellent and good rate was 84.6%.CONCLUSION: Poly DL-lactic bio-absorbable screw fixations are safe and effective in treating Pipkin fractures.