Bone wax

Bone wax as a sterile preparation for surgery

Bone wax is a waxy substance used to help mechanically control bleeding from bone surfaces during surgical procedures.

It is generally made of beeswax[1] with a softening agent such as paraffin or petroleum jelly and is smeared across the bleeding edge of the bone, blocking the holes and causing immediate bone hemostasis through a tamponade effect. Bone wax is most commonly supplied in sterile sticks, and usually requires softening before it can be applied.

  1. ^ Wellisz T, An YH, Wen X, Kang Q, Hill CM, Armstrong JK (February 2008). "Infection rates and healing using bone wax and a soluble polymer material". Clin. Orthop. Relat. Res. 466 (2): 481–6. doi:10.1007/s11999-007-0067-5. PMC 2505121. PMID 18196435.