Cement pressurisation in the acetabulum

Cement pressurisation is an important step in total hip arthroplasty that determines the long-term integration at the cement-bone interface. Our aim was to evaluate the performance of a new pressuriser designed by us against the standard existing pressurisers in an in vitro experimental set-up using two parameters: cement penetration and cement pressurisation. A polypropylene cup model was designed to represent the acetabulum. DePuy's T-handle, Exeter and our own plunger type pressuriser were each tested for cement pressurisation in this acetabular model. Cement penetration and pressures were measured. The cement intrusion into the capillaries with the DePuy pressuriser was found to vary between 2 and 8 mm (mean: 5 mm at the pole and 4.6 mm at the rim), with the Exeter pressuriser it varied between 3 and 9 mm (mean: 5.8 mm at the pole and 7.8 mm at the rim) and with the plunger type pressuriser it varied between 4 and 6 mm (mean 5.2 mm at the pole and 4.8 mm at the rim). The peak pressure achieved with the DePuy pressuriser was 60 kPa whereas it was 70 kPa with the plunger type pressuriser. The mean penetration with the plunger type pressuriser was found to be better than the other types. The penetration was found to be more uniform with equal penetration at the rim as well as at the pole.