Bioabsorbable implants in the treatment of hand fractures: an update.

UNLABELLED: Bioabsorbable implants have been used extensively in medicine. Many have suggested interest in these materials for hand fractures since they may lead to less implant morbidity and subsequent stiffness, and they have additional advantages: they are radiolucent, they eliminate hardware removal procedures, they limit stress shielding, and they incrementally transfer load to healing fractures. Disadvantages include weakness relative to metal implants, rapid loss of initial implant strength, higher refracture rates, and foreign body reactions. Newer polymers have led to a reduction in these complications and more stable fixation. While not yet incorporated into the armamentarium of most surgeons, there is promise that in the near future they may assist in the management of some hand fractures. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level V (expert opinion).