Arthrodesis of the first metatarsophalangeal joint in rheumatoid arthritis: Biodegradable rods and Kirschner-wires in 39 cases

The first metatarsophalangeal joint was arthrodesed in 39 patients with rheumatoid arthritis. Fixation material was either biodegradable self-reinforced poly-L-lactide rods or Kirschner-wires. There were 3 clinical nonunions in the biodegradable group, and none in the K-wire group, and radiographic nonunion in 5 and 2 cases, respectively. The fixator had to be removed in 3 cases in the K-wire group. The biodegradable rods did not seem to be any better than K-wires.