A fibrin adhesive seal for the repair of osteochondral fracture fragments.

A biologic tissue adhesive, a two-component fibrin sealant, for the immobilization of experimentally produced osteochondral fractures of the radial head and femoral condyle was investigated in dogs. The two components of the fibrin sealant were a sealer protein solution (fibrinogen) and a thrombin solution. A fibrinolytic inhibitor (C-esterase inhibitor) was added to prevent degradation of the fibrin by proteolytic enzymes. The operation was performed in 16 joints in four dogs. Control fractures on the right side were fixed with 5-cm Kirschner wires. No external immobilization was utilized. The dogs were killed at intervals of two, four, and eight weeks. There were no complications. All fractures healed uneventfully by eight weeks. Osseous repair seemed to be stimulated by the sealant and to occur faster than in the fractures fixed with pins.