Compositions and methods for hemostasis

A hand-moldable hemostatic composition having the consistency of a putty, wherein the composition is effective for tamponade hemostasis of a bone or cartilage comprising:

• a. a water-soluble ethoxylated fatty acid;
• b. a freely water soluble (FWS) non-particulate solid base material comprising:
• i) block copolymers of ethylene and propylene oxide and ii) polypropylene glycol, wherein the composition further comprises a particulate material embedded within the FWS solid base material;
• and
• c. a water absorbing dissolution retardant in an amount effective to increase the dissolution time of the FWS nonparticulate solid base material, wherein the water absorbing dissolution retardant is a carboxymethyl cellulose, or a sodium, potassium or lithium salt thereof, and wherein the carboxymethyl cellulose is present in an amount that is 5-15% by weight of the putty, thereby increasing the dissolution time of the FWS non-particulate solid base material, and
• wherein the composition has sufficient strength to adhere directly to the moist surfaces of bleeding bone or cartilage, thereby creating a static interface that allows blood clotting to occur.