title: Temperature elevation during knee arthroplasty.
abstract: The temperature in the tibia and in the saw blade were recorded during 30 knee arthroplasty operations. In the saw blade the median maximum temperature was 68 degrees C (45-100 degrees C). The corresponding bone temperatures at two levels approximately 2 and 3 mm below the cutting surface were 47 degrees C and 42 degrees C, respectively. Irrigation of the saw area with physiologic saline solution had only a minimal effect. During the cement-curing process, the temperature was 37 degrees C (31-50 degrees C) at the cement-bone interface. We conclude that the cutting procedure generates heat above the critical temperature for bone necrosis that may harm prosthetic fixation, notably for bone ingrowth.
authors.affiliation: Lund University Hospital Department of Orthopedics, Sweden.
authors.forename: S T
authors.initials: ST
authors.lastname: Larsen
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Ryd
mesh_terms: D001178:Arthroplasty / Q000295:instrumentation*; D001843:Bone Cements; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D006358:Hot Temperature / Q000009:adverse effects; D006801:Humans; D013696:Temperature; D013814:Thermal Conductivity; D013977:Tibia / Q000601:surgery*
chemical_list: D001843:Bone Cements