Long-term results of wrist arthrodeses fixed with self-reinforced polylevolactic acid implants in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

Objective: Implants made of self-reinforcing polylevolactic acid (SR-PLLA) have been successfully used in arthrodeses of patients with rheumatoid arthritis. No long-term evaluation on bioabsorbable fixation in patients with rheumatoid arthritis has been published so far. Methods: In this study 21 wrist fusions were performed on 18 patients with rheumatoid arthritis by using SR-PLLA rods as fixation devices. The follow-up time was 3-8 years (mean 5.4 years). Results: The results showed one non-union but no infections or problems associated with the bioabsorbable implants used. Conclusion: According to this study, fixation of wrist arthrodesis in patients with rheumatoid arthritis can be performed by using SR-PLLA implants with favourable results. The benefit of this method is the avoidance of the removal operation of fixation devices.