Fibrin adhesive system (FAS) influence on bone healing rate: a microradiographical evaluation using the bone growth chamber.

A dividable titanium implant containing two canals was inserted into both tibial metaphyses of 5 adult rabbits to test whether the Fibrin Adhesive System (FAS) can accelerate bone regeneration. On one side the implants were pretreated with FAS whereas the implants on the contralateral side were bathed in autologous blood and marrow. After a healing time of 4-5 weeks the assembled implants were removed and then taken apart. The amount of bone which had grown into the canals was quantified by microradiography and microdensitometry. The FAS-treated implants showed a tendency to contain less bone than the medullary cell-treated ones. It is concluded that more evidence should be gathered before recommending FAS treatment to accelerate bone regeneration. It is submitted in addition that the dividable titanium implant, the Bone Growth Chamber, may be useful for quantification of early bone formation under various experimental conditions.