Abstract: INTRODUCTION: Bonewax, a softened form of beeswax used for bone hemostasis, is an insoluble and nonresorbable material. Bonewax inhibits osteogenesis and acts as a nidus to potentiate infections. Ostene®, a new wax for bone hemostasis, comprised of water-soluble oxyalkylene copolymers, does not remain at the site of application and thus should address the adverse reactions associated with bonewax. Our study compared the effect of Ostene® versus bonewax on bone healing. METHODS: Two 3-mm circular defects were made in the calvariae of rats (n = 30). Sufficient Ostene® or bonewax was applied to achieve immediate hemostasis. Control defects had no hemostatic material added. After 3, 6 and 12 weeks, rats were sacrificed and calvariae excised. Bone healing, expressed as fractional bone volume (± SEM), was measured by micro-computed tomography. RESULTS: Bonewax remained at the application site at all time points with negligible healing observed. At 3 weeks, no evidence of Ostene® was observed at the application site with fractional bone volume significantly greater than bonewax-treated defects (0.20±0.01 vs 0.02±0.01, p = 0.0003) whereas control vs bonewax-treated defects were not significantly different (0.11±0.02 vs 0.02±0.01, p = 0.0550). At 6 and 12 weeks, while Ostene®-treated and control defects were not significantly different, Ostene®-treated defects continued to show significantly greater healing vs bonewax (0.18±0.04 vs 0.05±0.01 and 0.31±0.04 vs 0.06±0.02, respectively). CONCLUSION: Ostene® is an effective hemostatic agent that does not inhibit osteogenesis and bone healing. Ostene® is an excellent solution when immediate bone hemostasis is required while avoiding the complications of bonewax.

Clara E Magyar¹, Tara Aghaloo¹, Elisa Atti¹, Sotirios Tetradis¹

¹UCLA School of Dentistry

Keywords: Ostene , bone , hemostasis , beeswax , Alkylene oxide , polymer , osteogenesis , healing , micro-CT