[Acute tissue toxicity of PMMA bone cements].
OBJECTIVE
Local toxic reactions are one possible reason for fibrous tissue formation at the interface between bone and PMMA bone cement. Most of the numerous in vitro studies have shown severe cytotoxicity of bone cements and their components. However, in vivo investigations of the local tissue toxicity of bone cements have so far seldom been performed.


METHODS
The in-vivo hens-egg chorion-allantoic-membrane test (HET-CAM), a well established replacement procedure for experiments with higher vertebrates, is used for the testing of potentially toxic solid and fluid substances. It was performed with PMMA bone cements, their components and their monomer extracts to measure in vivo biocompatibility.


RESULTS
We showed that local toxic tissue reactions occurred, especially at the beginning of the processing phase of PMMA bone cements. We also proved that certain components of PMMA bone cements have poor tissue compatibility and sometimes cause severe local tissue changes.


CONCLUSIONS
In the development of PMMA bone cements and when drafting the recommendations for their use, attention should be paid to their biocompatibility as well as their mechanical properties.
Kalteis
T
T
Orthopädische Klinik, Universität Regensburg, Bad Abbach. thomas.kalteis@klinik.uni-regensburg.de
Lüring
C
C
Gugler
G
G
Zysk
S
S
Caro
W
W
Handel
M
M
Grifka
J
J
D000826:Animal Testing Alternatives; D000818:Animals; D001843:Bone Cements / Q000633:toxicity*; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects*; D002642:Chick Embryo; D049033:Chorioallantoic Membrane / Q000187:drug effects; D046169:Dermoscopy; D005549:Foreign-Body Reaction / Q000473:pathology; D006470:Hemorrhage / Q000473:pathology; D009336:Necrosis; D019904:Polymethyl Methacrylate / Q000633:toxicity*; D013329:Structure-Activity Relationship
D001843:Bone Cements; D019904:Polymethyl Methacrylate