Hemostasis in Human Iliac Crest Donor Sites With Microfibrillar Collagen

The effectiveness of topically applied microfibrillar collagen hemostat (MCH) in controlling bleeding from human iliac crest bone graft donor sites is compared with that of sponge compression and Gelfoam– thrombin (G–T) packs. Measurements were made by elution of hemoglobin from sampling sponges applied to the donor bed to yield base line bleeding rate and rates at intervals after treatment. There was a significantly lower bleeding rate after treatment with MCH or with G–T than after manual compression with dry sponges. No significant difference was detected between the MCH and G–T groups. There was a low level increase in the anti-bovine serum albumin IgM and IgE antibody titers in the MCH-treated patients. No clinically apparent immunologic responses were detected.