About radioactivity in some PMMA bone cements.
Various bone cements containing zirconium oxide (ZrO2) as X-ray contrast medium were tested for radioactivity by means of a gamma spectrometer. All measured bone cements (PALACOS, IMPLAST, SULFIX-6) showed a certain degree of radioactivity. The radiation source in the bone cement is the added zirconium oxide, which is polluted by radioactive elements. As these X-ray contrast media remain in the body for decades as components of the bone cement, the radioactive zirconium oxides should be substituted by high purity radiation-free zirconium oxide or barium sulfate.
Hopf
W
W
Orthopedic Department, University of the Saarland, Homburg, West Germany.
Hopf
C G
CG
Glöbel
B
B
D001843:Bone Cements / Q000737:chemistry*; D006801:Humans; D008768:Methylmethacrylates / Q000737:chemistry*; D011851:Radioactivity; D015040:Zirconium / Q000032:analysis*
D001843:Bone Cements; D008768:Methylmethacrylates; D015040:Zirconium; C028541:zirconium oxide