Viscous isoamyl 2-cyanoacrylate as an osseous adhesive in the repair of osteochondral osteotomies in rabbits.

An in vivo study of viscous isoamyl 2-cyanoacrylate used in limited amounts as an osseous adhesive was performed to evaluate the ability of the monomer to maintain the reduction of an unstable intra-articular osteochondral osteotomy as well as to allow for healing around the sites of adhesive placement. A histologic evaluation of any inflammatory reaction involving adjacent bone, cartilage, or synovium was also performed. Osteochondral fragments were created in 48 rabbit knees. In 24 knees, reduction of the fragment was secured with one small drop of adhesive at either end of the osteotomy surface. In 24 control knees, no adhesive was used. Ninety-six percent of the osteotomies in the adhesive treated group healed versus 50% of the control group. This difference is statistically significant (p less than 0.05). Osseous and cartilaginous healing was noted to proceed in an apparently unimpaired fashion around the sites of adhesive placement, and no inflammatory reaction involving adjacent viable tissue was evident.