Intramedullary nailing of diaphyseal fractures with self‐reinforced polylactide implants

In fracture treatment, several adverse effects of metal, especially its excessive rigidity, often require the removal of the implants after a fracture has healed. Recent research with biodegradable polymers has contributed to the development of totally biodegradable polylactic acid implants with very high initial bending and shear strengths, but a modulus of elasticity comparable to that of bone. These implants were originally intended for use in fractures involving cancellous bone. Encouraging results from treating experimentally produced diaphyseal fractures led the authors to use these implants in a clinical trial on shaft fractures in dogs and cats. In this study, a total of 11 dogs and 14 cats had 28 diaphyseal fractures treated with one or several intramedullary pins of self‐reinforced left isomeric polylactic acid. Of the 25 treated cases, 23 healed. Four of these had an unsatisfactory end result attributed to the implants used and one developed an osteomyelitis. Thus, out of 25 fractures, 23 united (92 per cent] and 18 [72 per cent) had a good or excellent outcome.