A long-term clinical study on drawn poly-L-lactide implants in orthopaedic surgery.

We have developed an ultra-high-strength drawn poly (L-lactide) (PLLA) with a bending strength of 240 MPa. Seventy-four patients (80 cases) who were treated with this PLLA implant were enrolled in this study. Their ages ranged from 14 to 78 years, and the follow-up period ranged from 4 to 9 years (mean: 5.3 years). Bony union was obtained in all cases. Osteolytic changes were observed in 12 cases (15%) but no late aseptic swelling was noted. Both MRI and roentgenographic findings indicated that the spaces where the PLLA implants were located had not been replaced with bony tissue.