Absorbable screw and metal screw fixation for ankle fractures:comparison of biocompatibility and ankle function / 中国组织工程研究

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND:Previous ankle fracture surgery mainly uses the internal fixation materials such as metal screws or Kirschner wire, which can achieve a strong internal fixation, but al need to be taken out in the secondary surgery. In recent years, elastic modulus of biodegradable absorbable screw is identical to that of cancel ous bone, and has been widely used in clinic. OBJECTIVE:To compare the biocompatibility and functional recovery of ankle joint in the repair of ankle fractures with absorbable screws and metal screws. METHODS:100 patients with ankle fractures were selected, including 70 males and 30 females, at the age of 19 to 55 years old. Fifty patients were repaired with absorbable screws and fifty patients were repaired with metal screws. Clinical efficacy, Kofoed score, fracture healing time and adverse events were observed between the two groups after repair. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:Patients were fol owed up for over 6 months in both groups, showing good bony cal us, good contraposition and alignment at the fracture end. No delayed union or nonunion occurred. The excel ent and good rate of clinical effect was 96%and 94%in the absorbable screw group and metal screw group, respectively, showing no significant difference. There was no significant difference in ankle Kofoed score, fracture healing time and incidence of adverse events between the two groups (P>0.05). These results suggest that absorbable screw fixation for ankle fractures had good biocompatibility and could effectively restore ankle function;its effects are similar to that of traditional metal screws.