The tissue response to an alkylene bis(dilactoyl)-methacrylate bone adhesive

Gluing is an attractive technique to fix small bone fragments. However, to date no bone adhesive could be established successfully for all day clinical use. The purpose of this experimental study was to investigate the biocompatibility of a new bone glue based on alkylene bis(dilactoyl)-methacrylate in 36 rabbits. Monocondylar osteotomy of the distal femur was performed and bone glue was applied into the osteotomy gap in 24 rabbits. The remaining 12 animals served as controls. In all rabbits the osteotomy was subsequently stabilized by K-wire osteosynthesis. Six animals of the glue group and 3 controls were euthanized after 7, 21, 42, and 84 days, respectively. Fracture healing and degradation pattern of the glue was studied using histological, histomorphometrical, scanning electron microscopical, and radiological methods. Good resorption of the glue by mononuclear and multinucleated giant cells without prolonged inflammatory processes was observed in the glue group. Histomorphometrical analysis did not reveal any significant differences in fracture healing between the glue and control group at any time. Complete remodelling of the former osteotomy gap was found in all rabbits after 84 days. This bioresorbable bone adhesive exhibited good biocompatibility and its degradation did not interfere with physiological fracture healing.