title: Detrimental effect of aging on the endurance of bone cement. An in vivo and in vitro study in rabbits.
abstract: We investigated the effect of aging on the compressive strength of bone cement under in vivo and in vitro conditions. Cement molds were implanted in the dorsum of rabbits and other molds were kept under stable conditions and in darkness. Comparative measures taken at 15 days and 1, 3, 6, 12 and 24 months showed lower endurance of the implanted molds (p < 0.001). A reactive capsule surrounded the bone cement in vivo up to the 3rd month, its cellularity increased, and then almost disappeared by 1 year. Macrophages and foreign body cells reappeared at 2 years, indicating a "chemical aging" effect in the in vivo environment. Our findings suggest that aging may play an important role in the amelioration of the mechanical properties of bone cement.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Th. Garofallidis Research Center, Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: T T
authors.initials: TT
authors.lastname: Ioannidis
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Kavadias
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Sdrenias
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Nakopoulou
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Prassianakis
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001843:Bone Cements; D019245:Compressive Strength; D003238:Connective Tissue / Q000473:pathology; D011817:Rabbits; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D001843:Bone Cements