Bone cement: an overview

Polymethylmethacrylate bone cement is a widely utilised material in the field of orthopaedic surgery and specifically total joint arthroplasty. Despite this, its mechanical properties are poorly understood by the end-user and there is controversy over the manner in which the material should be tested and the effects some commonly used techniques have on its mechanical properties.
This article sets out the properties and features of bone cement as related to its most common use in orthopaedic surgery and attempts to highlight some of the issues we feel are relevant to those responsible for its ultimate use and long-term success.