Bone cement usage modalities at a multi-site university hospital centre

Area of Science:

• Orthopaedic Surgery
• Biomaterials Science
• Surgical Technique Optimization

Background:

• Cements are crucial in arthroplasty, yet optimal usage guidelines are scarce.
• Current practices in French hospitals regarding cement use remain largely undocumented.
• Understanding current cementing modalities is essential for improving long-term surgical outcomes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe current cement usage practices among surgeons in a French university hospital.
• To determine if cementing techniques vary based on surgeon experience.
• To identify discrepancies between current practices and established recommendations.

Main Methods:

• A questionnaire survey was distributed to orthopaedic surgeons across five departments.
• Data collected included surgeon demographics, arthroplasty volume, cement type, and specific cementing techniques.
• Responses from 21 surgeons were analyzed to assess practice variations.

Main Results:

• High-viscosity antibiotic-loaded cement was favored by 95% of respondents, particularly for knee arthroplasties.
• Significant variations in cementing techniques were observed, including pulsed lavage and cement application methods.
• Experienced surgeons ( > 5 years) and those performing higher volumes of arthroplasties were more likely to use pulsed lavage.

Conclusions:

• Cementing techniques in arthroplasty demonstrate considerable variability among surgeons.
• There is a need to promote universally advocated techniques like pulsed lavage and comprehensive cement application.
• Facilitating experience exchange among surgeons is vital for harmonizing practices and optimizing cement utilization.