Topical hemostatic agents for bone bleeding in humans. A quantitative comparison of gelatin paste, gelatin sponge plus bovine thrombin, and microfibrillar collagen.

The three topical hemostatic agents--gelatin paste, microfibrillar collagen, and gelatin sponge soaked in thrombin--individually were effective in reducing bleeding from cancellous bone, as tested on the femoral surface of trochanteric osteotomies during total hip replacement. During a three-minute interval, the spontaneous reduction in bleeding in eight control hips to which no agent was applied was 11 per cent. Gelatin paste gave a reduction of 85 per cent; gelatin sponge soaked in thrombin, a reduction of 75 per cent; and microfibrillar collagen, a reduction of 47 per cent. None of these agents interfered with healing of the trochanteric osteotomy.