Effects of barium concentration on the radiopacity and biomechanics of bone cement: experimental study.
OBJECTIVE
This study was undertaken to evaluate the changes in the radiopacity and mechanics of polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) bone cement with the addition of barium.


METHODS
Barium sulfate powder was added to a PMMA bone cement with an initial 10% barium concentration. The changes in radiopacity and strength were evaluated by testing cement blocks containing four barium concentrations (10%, 20%, 30%, 40%). Radiopacity was evaluated by measuring the computed tomography (CT) values of the bone cement, and strength was evaluated by compressive, three-point bending, and impact load tests.


RESULTS
CT values increased in proportion to the barium concentration. The compressive load test showed that cement with a 40% barium concentration was significantly more fragile than cement with lower barium concentrations. The three-point bending load test showed that the cement became more fragile in proportion to the barium concentration. The impact load test showed that cement with 30% and 40% barium concentrations was significantly more fragile than cement with 10% and 20% barium concentrations.


CONCLUSIONS
Radiopacity is increased and strength is reduced by adding increasing concentrations of barium powder to bone cement. The results of the present study suggest that adding barium permits the radiopacity and strength of bone cement to be adjusted in clinical practice.
Makita
Masashi
M
Department of Radiology, Mie University School of Medicine, 2-174 Edobashi, Tsu, 514-8507, Japan. 304D041@m.mie-u.ac.jp
Yamakado
Koichiro
K
Nakatsuka
Atsuhiro
A
Takaki
Haruyuki
H
Inaba
Tadashi
T
Oshima
Fumiyoshi
F
Katayama
Hidetaka
H
Takeda
Kan
K
D001466:Barium Sulfate / Q000737:chemistry*; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D001843:Bone Cements / Q000737:chemistry*; D019245:Compressive Strength; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods; D008422:Materials Testing / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards; D019904:Polymethyl Methacrylate / Q000737:chemistry*; D011856:Radiographic Image Enhancement / Q000379:methods*; D013314:Stress, Mechanical; D013718:Tensile Strength; D015898:Tomography Scanners, X-Ray Computed
D001843:Bone Cements; D001466:Barium Sulfate; D019904:Polymethyl Methacrylate