[Reaction of the bone- and soft tissues to implanted bone wax in the sheep]

2,5 gr. of bone wax (Knochenwachs) were implanted in the iliac crest of 10 sheep. The induction of a foreign body reaction and chronic inflammation was proven demonstrable until the 12th week after implantation of the bone wax. In this period only partial resorption of the wax occurred simultaneously with significantly retarded osseous regeneration. From a clinical point of view it therefore seems necessary when using bone wax to pay particular attention to inflammatory reactions, reduced new bone formation and eventual occurrence of pseudo-arthrosis.