Effects of a hemostatic jelly with polylactic acid on hemostasis of injured cancellous bone

OBJECTIVE: To prepare a self-made compound, hemostatic jelly with polylactic acid (PLA), which has the hemostatic and absorbable effect on injured cancellous bone. METHODS: Two bone defects of 5 mm in diameter and 4 mm in depth were subjected on 20 health rabbits by drilling through their either outside plate of the iliac, and were filled with hemostatic jelly(group A), bone wax(group B) and blank(group C) respectively. Hemostasis were observed and recorded after 1 and 10 minutes. Five specimens were harvested at 2, 4, 8 and 12 weeks postoperatively for histological observation. RESULTS: (1) Hemostatic effect: Bleeding of injured spongy bone stopped within 10 minutes after the treatment of hemostatic jelly and bone wax, but bleeding of blank did not stop. Hemostatic jelly and bone wax adhered to bone defects firmly within 10 minutes was after the treatment. (2) Absorbable effect: Hemostatic jelly and bone defects have not changed visibly in the first 2 weeks. With histological observation 4 to 8 weeks after the operation, hemostatic jelly was absorbed gradually and replaced by osteogeneous tissue. It was absorbed completely after 8 to 12 weeks. Bone wax was not absorbed after 12 weeks, no new bone tissue was observed at bone wax area. The blank was replaced by connective tissue and osteogeneous tissue partially after 12 weeks. CONCLUSION: The compound hemostatic jelly manifests both hemostatic and absorbable effects on injured cancellous bone and may substitute for bone wax in clinical application.