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Updated: Jul 10, 2026

An Improved Mechanical Testing Method to Assess Bone-implant Anchorage
Published on: February 10, 2014
[Mechanical in vitro testing of fifteen commercial bone cements based on polymethylmethacrylate]
1Universitätsklinik für Orthopädie und Unfallchirurgie, Rheinische Friedrich-Wilhelms-Universität Bonn, Bonn. sascha.gravius@web.de
Unlabelled:
INTRODUCTION The long-term stability in cemented hip arthroplasty depends not only on the mechanical properties of the acrylic bone cements but also on an improvement of cementing techniques.
Material And Methods:
The bending strengths of 15 commonly used bone cements (CMW 3 Gentamycin; CMW 3; Refobacin Palacos R; Palacos R; Palamed G; Palamed; Cerafixgenta; Cerafix; Duracem; Simplex Tobramycin; Simplex P; Versabond; Sulcem; Sulcem 3 Genta; Copal) have been mechanically tested in a standardised in vitro four-point bending test (ISO 5833). The fatigue fracture surfaces were morphologically analysed with light microscopy.
Results:
The highest values of bending strength were found in vacuum mixed specimens cured under pressure. The lowest values of strength were seen in with blood contaminated specimens. Fatigue cracks were often initiated from air bubbles or other inclusions such as antibiotics or blood in the bone cement.
Conclusions:
The present in vitro study highlights the supposition that the quality of the cementing technique is of eminent importance in determining the long-term stability of cemented hip arthroplasties.
