The purpose of this article is to show the efficacy of a bioabsorbable polylactide (PLA) screw for treating syndesmotic injuries of ankle fractures.

Ten patients who underwent an open reduction and internal fixation operation for ankle fractures that had syndesmotic injuries from Dec. 1992 to Feb. 1997 were enrolled into the study. There were 6 men and 4 women. The average age of the patients was 42.6 years and the average follow-up period was 2 years 7 months. The cases were analyzed by clinical and radiological findings at the time of their last follow-up evaluation.

According to the clinical results, there was statistically no significant difference between finding an average of 15.8 degrees of dorsiflexion and 45.8 degrees of plantar flexion of the ankle on the affected side of the individuals and that of 17.8 degrees of dorsiflexion and 48.5 degrees of plantar flexion on their normal contralateral side. Upon radiological analysis, the medial clear space was decreased from 7.3±1.8 mm to 3.1±1.0 mm, the tibio-fibular clear space was decreased from 7.8±0.9 mm to 4.9±0.5 mm and the tibio-fibular overlap increased from 4.6±1.8 mm to 10.5±1.4 mm. Also there was no pain and instability in the affected side in any of the patients at the time of the last follow-up.

A bioabsorbable PLA screw is a good implant for stabilizing syndesmotic injuries of the ankle fractures because there is no evidence of a significant osteolysis resulting around the implant, there is a gradual transfer of stress to the surrounding bone, and there is no requirement for a subsequent removal.