Topical hemostatic agents to reduce bleeding from cancellous bone. A comparison of microcrystalline collagen, thrombin, and thrombin-soaked gelatin foam.

In fifty-three dogs microcrystalline collagen, thrombin-soaked gelatin foam, and thrombin powder were evaluated as hemostatic agents when applied to bleeding cancellous surfaces after osteotomy of the greater trochanter using two quantitative models: one, a single osteotomy; the other, a double osteotomy. All three agents significantly reduced bleeding compared with the controls, the microcrystalline collagen being most effective. At three months there was no evidence that microcrystalline collagen and thrombin-gelatin interfered with bone healing after the greater trochanter was reattached with two wires.