Isobutyl 2-cyanoacrylate as an osseous adhesive in the repair of osteochondral fractures.

An in vivo evaluation of isobutyl 2-cyanoacrylate as an osseous adhesive was done in an effort to answer two questions: Used in limited amounts, can this monomer maintain the reduction of an unstable intra-articular osteochondral fracture while allowing for fracture healing around the sites of adhesive placement? Used in limited amounts, in this monomer toxic to adjacent viable bone? Osteochondral fractures were created in 32 dog knees. In 16 knees, the fracture reduction was secured with three small drops of adhesive placed around the periphery of the fracture surface. In 16 control knees no adhesive was used. Eighty-one percent of the fractures in the adhesive-treated group united compared to 56% of the control group. Although the difference in number of fractures that healed in the two groups is not definitely statistically significant and no conclusion was drawn as to effectiveness of the adhesive, osseous healing was noted to proceed around the sites of adhesive placement and the monomer appeared nontoxic to adjacent bone.