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.