Use of beeswax for repair of damaged dry human bones in anatomy

• Main Authors: Shruthi Bhat, Sheela G Nayak, Vidyashambhava Pare, Sagar Borker
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications 2013-01-01
• Series: National Journal of Clinical Anatomy
• Subjects: bone set; maintenance; beehive; damaged bones; osteology
• Online Access: http://www.njca.info/article.asp?issn=2277-4025;year=2013;volume=2;issue=4;spage=200;epage=203;aulast=Bhat
• ISSN: 2277-4025; 2321-2780

Background : Beehives are made up of wax, which are the natural glandular secretions of honeybees. One such huge beehive was incidentally noticed on the wall behind the Department of Anatomy, K.V.G. Medical College Sullia in 2012. The bees had already abandoned it and there were no bees even fluttering around. So we plucking it ensured that it was excised as a whole, instead of allowing it to get biodegraded. With assistance we got it to the Department. Objective : To study the architecture of this beehive and use of its wax to repair damaged dry human bones in the Department of Anatomy. Materials and Methods: Spirit lamp, spirit, Forceps, Cutting blades, quick fix, varnish, spatula and enamel paint were used for the study. Wax melted when heated at 62-65degree Celsius. Crude wax of the beehive was placed on the damaged bone by plucking a part of it. Then the bone was given a correct shape manually. Damaged bone part was repaired artistically using a hot spatula. Results: We could repair many damaged bones with this chunk of wax. Conclusion : This is a simple, cost effective, appropriate technique of bone repair in Anatomy. Regular maintenance of bones will prevent its damage. Thus bones can be used for a long period which can ensure percolation of right information to students of Anatomy.