A method for histological preparation of undecalcified bone sections containing acrylic bone cement

An improved and time reducing method is presented for the histological evaluation of bone containing polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) bone cement. The undecalcified bone was embedded in epoxy resin and section of 50-100 microns thickness were produced using a commercially available cutting grinding system. The sections were stained with Stevenel's blue and van Gieson picrofuchsin or a modified hematoxylineosin. PMMA bone cement was not dissolved and remained enabling examination in situ of an intact cement bone interface and tissue reaction without decalcification.