Effect of bismuth subgallate (a hemostatic agent) on bone repair; a histologic, radiographic and histomorphometric study in rats.

Bismuth subgallate (BS) is a hemostatic agent used for soft tissue surgery in otorhinolaryngology and dermatology. Its effect on bone repair has not been studied. The present study undertook a quantitative and qualitative evaluation of post-extraction bone healing in the presence of BS. Under intraperitoneal anesthesia, forty male Wistar rats, 80+/-5g body weight, underwent the extraction of both lower first molars. BS was placed in the right post-extraction socket (group E) and the contralateral socket served as control (group C). The animals were killed in groups immediately, 7, 14 and 30 days post-extraction. The mandibles were resected, radiographed and processed for embedding in paraffin. The mesial socket was sectioned along the bucco-lingual axis and stained with hematoxylin-eosin. Total tissue volume and trabecular bone volume of the apical third of the sockets were determined histomorphometrically. At 14 and 30 days post-extraction, group E exhibited bone tissue that resembled that of group C. Histomorphometric analyses showed no statistically significant differences between groups C and E. Bismuth subgallate did not interfere with post-extraction bone healing. Further studies will analyze the effect of this hemostatic agent on bone repair in aniticoagulated rats.

Haemophilic pseudotumour of the mandible: report of three cases.

A haemophilic pseudotumour is basically an encapsulated haematoma. It is an infrequent complication, estimated to affect 1-2% of severe haemophiliacs, although it has also been reported in patients with mild and moderate haemophilia. A history of trauma is reported in most cases, and the onset of symptoms varies from months to years. The majority of haemophilic pseudotumours are seen in adults and occur in long bones (femur, pelvis, tibia). Here are reported three cases of pseudotumour of the mandible in young patients with mild haemophilia A.