1994 Volume 8 Issue 1 Pages 19-23
Bioabsorbable rib-connecting pins made from polylactic acid (PLA pins) were clinically applied to thoracotomy. At the time of chest closure, PLA pins were used to connect the rib cut to enlarge the operating field.
There were 36 subjects including 26 cases of primary lung cancer, 2 cases of metastatic lung cancer, 2 cases of benign pulmonary tumor, and 6 cases of other diseases. The operative procedures consisted of 29 lobectomies, 2 total pneumonectomies, 2 partial pneumonectomies, 2 enucleations, and one segmentectomy.
The PLA pin was evaluated as follows. Its usability at operation was very good in 78% and good in 22% of cases, fixation was good in 94% and poor in 6% and deviation of the pin was seen in 6% but not in 94%. Chest X-ray films detected no lucent zone at the rib-connecting site, healing was good in 100% of cases, and there were no side effects. The overall assessment was useful in 83%, and useful in 6% of cases.
Thus, the PLA pin proved useful for rib reconstruction at thoracotomy. It could also be applied to rib fractures occurring at thoracotomy or due to chest trauma.
