A biomechanical evaluation of metacarpal fracture fixation with absorbable polyglycolide rods

Abstract

The mechanical strength of human metacarpal fractures fixed with sintered self-reinforced polyglycolide (SR-PGA) rods was evaluated. The surgical constructs were immersed in buffered saline solution and maintained at body temperature (37/spl deg/C). The initial bending stiffness of the specimens fixed with SR-PGA rods was 61% of that of Kirschner wire fixation. The bending stiffness of the specimens fixed with absorbable rods decreased with time. Most of the specimens lost their mechanical stability at four weeks.