Stabilization of osteochondral fragments using limited placement of cyanoacrylate in rabbits.

The higher homologues of the alkyl-2-cyanoacrylates appear to possess properties useful for an osseous adhesive. Considering currently available bonding strengths, the most reasonable potential application of an osseous adhesive would appear to involve the stabilization of relatively small osteochondral fragments. If used as a means of temporary internal fixation, such an adhesive would need to be used in limited amounts in limited areas to allow for normal healing processes to occur between areas of adhesive placement. An animal study was therefore conducted utilizing the viscous isoamyl-2-cyanoacrylate monomer to evaluate its ability to maintain the reduction of an unstable osteochondral fragment while allowing for healing around the sites of adhesive placement. Used in limited quantities, this monomer appeared to allow adjacent healing to occur unimpeded and to be nontoxic to adjacent viable bone and cartilage. This adhesive also appeared to lend significant stability to the reduction of an osteochondral fragment in the knees of a series of rabbits.