DECALCIFICATION OF TEMPORAL BONES: THE USE OF X-RAYS FOR DETERMINING WHEN DECALCIFICATION IS COMPLETE

Abstract

In the decalcification of temporal bones, two important questions arise: 1. Which decalcifying fluid is best? 2. How can one know when the bone is actually decalcified? It is frequently stated that 5 per cent aqueous nitric acid is the most suitable decalcifying fluid. The temporal bones are placed in this solution, and fresh changes are made every few days until the bones are decalcified. Other acid solutions that have been used are hydrochloric acid and sulphurous acid. When hydrochloric acid is used, however, the outer parts of the bone seem to become so disintegrated that they are frequently lost. It has been my experience that even 5 per cent nitric acid solution in 70 per cent alcohol produces dissolution of the outer parts of the bone before the central part is decalcified. Thus, valuable tissue and landmarks are often destroyed. From 1 to 2 per cent nitric acid has