title: Is the Stryker Revolution mixing system fit for purpose? Reliability and a micro-CT assessment of cement porosity.
abstract: The Stryker Revolution(TM) is a new mixing system that employs a high vacuum and a motorised mixing spatula in an effort to reduce cement porosity. We have compared Revolution(TM) with Depuy Cemvac(®), in terms of system reliability and cement porosity. Standardised Simplex P(®) and SmartSet(®) HV cement samples were produced using both mixing systems and analysed using a micro-CT scanner. The overall porosity, number and volume of voids were measured. Void analysis was subdivided into macro-pores (>0.5 mm3) and micro-pores (0.0005-0.5 mm3). Both systems were easy to use and no breakages were encountered. There was no significant difference in overall porosity between Revolution(TM) and Cemvac(®). Revolution(TM) produced over a five-fold decrease in average macro-pore size with medium viscosity cement (p=0.02), but produced a greater number of micro-pores (p<0.01). SmartSet(®) HV specimens had a higher porosity compared to Simplex P(®). This study demonstrated that the Revolution(TM) system was reliable and reduced porosity at least as effectively as the established Cemvac(®) system. The Revolution(TM) produced a greater number of smaller pores and further testing is required to establish if this results in a significant mechanical benefit.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedics, University of Edinburgh, Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, Scotland, UK. sampmackenzie@googlemail.com
authors.forename: Samuel P
authors.initials: SP
authors.lastname: Mackenzie
authors.forename: Graham F
authors.initials: GF
authors.lastname: Dall
authors.forename: Georgina C
authors.initials: GC
authors.lastname: Duke
authors.forename: Rob
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: van t'Hoff
authors.forename: Steffen J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Breusch
mesh_terms: D001843:Bone Cements / Q000737:chemistry*; D016062:Porosity; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012996:Solutions; D055114:X-Ray Microtomography / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D001843:Bone Cements; D012996:Solutions