Association of hyaluronic acid with a collagen scaffold may improve bone healing in critical-size bone defects.

Objectives: To evaluate the effects of a 1% hyaluronic acid (HA) gel in combination with an absorbable collagen sponge (ACS) in the healing of critical-size calvaria defects in rats.

Material And Methods: Thirty-two adult Wistar rats were used. Two 5-mm-diameter critical-size defects were created and the treatments were randomly distributed as follows: (1) 1% HA; (2) 1% HA gel-soaked ACS; (3) control (blood clot); and (4) ACS.