ALTERATIONS TO THE EN-BLOC BASIC FUCHSIN STAINING PROTOCOL FOR THE DEMONSTRATION OF MICRODAMAGE PRODUCED IN-VIVO

En bloc staining with basic fuchsin has become the method of choice to demonstrate bone microdamage produced in vivo. Several alterations ha ve recently been made to the protocol. This technical note presents th e new protocols, which include staining through a graded series of alc ohols under vacuum, and eliminating the original evaporation stage in the staining protocol. Reasons for variations in staining quality can be related to inadequate dehydration, failure to stain under vacuum, t he source of the basic fuchsin, or the solubility of basic fuchsin in water. The most common reasons for over- or understaining are the time left in stain, and the density of the bone. Limitations to the techni que include the fact that probably not all cracks are stained by the t echnique, and the technique is not useful for studies that involve bon e with highly variable densities in a single section.