self-reinforced poly-levo-lactide and metallic devices in the fixation of femoral osteotomies an experimental study on rabbits and rats

................................................................................................................................................................... 7 list of original publications ....................................................................................................................... 8 list of abbreviations ......................................................................................................................................... 9 introduction......................................................................................................................................................... 11 review of the literature ............................................................................................................................... 13 Chemical structure of polylactide ........................................................................................................................................................13 Synthesis of polylactide.........................................................................................................................................................................13 Biodegradation of polylactide...............................................................................................................................................................13 Biocompatibility of polylactide ........................................................................................................................................................... 14 Mechanical properties of polylactide.................................................................................................................................................. 14 Experimental studies of polylactide devices....................................................................................................................................... 14 Clinical studies of polylactide devices ................................................................................................................................................ 18 Experimental studies and stress protection in the rigid and semi-rigid fi xation ...........................................................................20 Quantitative computed tomography (QCT) to quantify bone mineral non-invasively in the cancellous and cortical bone ....21 Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in the detection of polylactide in the cancellous and cortical bone.................................... 22 aims of the present study ............................................................................................................................. 25 materials and methods.................................................................................................................................. 27 Experimental animals ......................................................................................................................................................................... 27 Fixation devices..................................................................................................................................................................................... 27 Anaesthesia techniques ........................................................................................................................................................................28 Operation methods ...............................................................................................................................................................................28 Postoperative follow-up .......................................................................................................................................................................29 Preparation of the specimens ...............................................................................................................................................................29 Radiographic techniques ......................................................................................................................................................................29 Quantitative computed tomography (QCT) ......................................................................................................................................... 30 Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) ..................................................................................................................................................... 30 Histological, histomorphometric , microradioraphic, and oxytetracycline (OTC) fl uorescence techniques ...............................31 Statistics .................................................................................................................................................................................................31 results.......................................................................................................................................................................33 Macroscopic results .............................................................................................................................................................................. 33 Radiographic results............................................................................................................................................................................. 33 Quantitative computed tomography (QCT) ......................................................................................................................................... 34 Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) ..................................................................................................................................................... 37 Histological, histomorphometric , microradioraphic, and oxytetracycline (OTC) fl uorescence results..................................... 38 discussion............................................................................................................................................................... 45 conclusions........................................................................................................................................................... 49 acknowledgments ..............................................................................................................................................51 references.............................................................................................................................................................. 52 original publications ..................................................................................................................................... 58