Strong as titanium, composed of lactic acid molecules strung together.

September 29, 2021 3:50 PM

Bio-absorbable screws are an alternative to metal, used by doctors to connect bones and joints. These screws work well for many types of bone repairs, eliminates a second surgery to remove the metal screws and plates. Though constructed of many lactic acid molecules strung together, they are sometimes called "sugar screws" to give patients an understanding of how they melt over time, as sugar cubes dissolve in tea.
posted by dancestoblue (19 comments total)

Day of the Dead sugar skulls are gonna need context from now on.
posted by BrotherCaine at 4:25 PM on September 29, 2021 [3 favorites]

I was like woah my son 3-d prints with PLA (poly-lactic acid) plastic, i wonder if this is similar. turns out at first it was poly (L) -lactic acid (PLLA) which has since been modified to PLGA (Poly-lactic-co-glycolic acid). I need to bone up on my chem to figure out just how similar they really are.
posted by OHenryPacey at 4:46 PM on September 29, 2021 [6 favorites]

> need to bone up on my chem

iswydt
posted by glonous keming at 4:48 PM on September 29, 2021 [17 favorites]

Hallux Valgus definitely sounds like someone we need to defeat at all costs, I fully support whatever is going on here on that basis alone. Down with Hallux Valgus!
posted by mhoye at 5:27 PM on September 29, 2021 [5 favorites]

Thinks about mildly aching wrist full of 15 year old titanium which is going to have to get pulled out at some point

Seems like a great idea to me!
posted by rockindata at 5:30 PM on September 29, 2021 [1 favorite]

They “dissolve into CO2 and are eventually exhaled by the patient”
posted by migurski at 5:53 PM on September 29, 2021 [2 favorites]

Ms. Windo has a ton of metal in her wrist. Haven't heard anything about them removing them...

These seem great. I hope they are as good as it says.
posted by Windopaene at 5:56 PM on September 29, 2021 [1 favorite]

This is great. For years I’ve been saying I love titanium screws but wish they tasted sweeter
posted by orange ball at 6:10 PM on September 29, 2021 [10 favorites]

constructed of many lactic acid molecules strung together

This explains why the leg cramps that wake me up at 3:30am feel like lag bolts being driven into my calf.
posted by CynicalKnight at 7:18 PM on September 29, 2021 [2 favorites]

This explains why the leg cramps that wake me up at 3:30am feel like lag bolts being driven into my calf.
posted by CynicalKnight at 9:18 PM
Public Service Announcement:
Same thing happened to me, out of nowhere I'd be thrown out of sleep, my leg(s) locked down tight, really nasty cramping. Talked to my sister about it, same thing was happening to my brother-in-law. The solution that they found: Gatorade.

It seems that somehow sports drinks fix the problem. I don't want to pay the cost of gatorade, plus I hate supporting that company, went online and found a better solution. I drink a lot of it, daily. End result? No more legs cramping.
end Public Service Announcement
posted by dancestoblue at 7:50 PM on September 29, 2021 [2 favorites]

Isn't the answer to leg cramps really electrolytes, though? You can get some pretty good non-sugary electrolyte replacements that dissolve in water. They taste like salt water, because that's basically what they are, but not too salty.

As for metal implants, look, some of us like the idea... bub.
posted by Halloween Jack at 7:59 PM on September 29, 2021 [11 favorites]

My orthopedist told me that the wires in my knee might need to eventually be removed "if you started to feel uncomfortable there". I said "yeah, but that'd be like years and years, right?" And he said no, I'd know within about four or five months. It's been a year now and things seem fine.

Still I'm not entirely convinced that I'm out of the woods and now I wish this had been the route he'd gone.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 8:31 PM on September 29, 2021 [1 favorite]

WAAAAAAAAAT
posted by rrrrrrrrrt at 8:44 PM on September 29, 2021

The company I work for has these in their product line. Logistically they kinda suck because they have to have a tattle tale decal affixed to the packaging to indicate if they’ve been exposed to too high of a temperature. I want to say 110F.
posted by spikeleemajortomdickandharryconnickjrmints at 9:19 PM on September 29, 2021 [1 favorite]

I have some titanium screws still in my ankle from 25 years ago that have given me basically no problems.
posted by glonous keming at 9:24 PM on September 29, 2021 [1 favorite]

I have one of these in my thumb after tearing a ligament skiing. It’s pretty good I guess.
posted by Slarty Bartfast at 9:48 PM on September 29, 2021

Slarty's giving this the good old "thumbs up"!
posted by mightshould at 4:42 AM on September 30, 2021 [3 favorites]

As for metal implants, look, some of us like the idea... bub.

Alternate-universe Wolverine, slowly dissolving in water over the course of months like some slow-motion Wicked Witch of the West.
posted by mhoye at 5:02 AM on September 30, 2021 [7 favorites]

I have some titanium screws still in my ankle from 25 years ago that have given me basically no problems.

Shhh, they'll hear you.
posted by Flexagon at 8:40 AM on October 1, 2021 [3 favorites]