The Effect of Working Time and Application Technique on Cement Penetration into a Tibial Model

Aseptic loosening of the cemented tibial component is a source of failure in total knee arthroplasty. This study examined common techniques for cement application by quantifying depth and volume of penetration into tibia models.

Thirty-six composite tibia models were cemented with a tibial component using 3 application techniques (gun, osteotome, and layered) with either early or late cement working time. Computed tomography and 3D-modeling were used to quantify volume and depth of penetration. Statistical analysis was conducted with analysis of variance with Bonferroni correction and Student's t-test.

No difference was found in overall volume of penetration between early and late cement application (P = .16). Beneath the baseplate, the layered technique had significantly less penetration and averaged less than 3 mm with early and late cement. The gun technique had the greatest depth of penetration with early cement and averaged greater than 3 mm in all zones regardless of cement working time. The osteotome technique achieved significantly greater depth of penetration around the keel with early and late cement, P < .01.

Using a cement gun ensures adequate penetration beneath the baseplate regardless of cement working time while the osteotome technique is effective to increase penetration around the implant keel. According to our study, applying cement early in its working time may not increase volume of penetration. This study raises concern regarding adequate cement penetration using the layered technique for cementing the tibial component in total knee arthroplasty, and future research is warranted.