Complications are often produced with the removal of bone cement from
the femoral cavity in the treatment of a failed hip prosthesis. Apart
from being slow and difficult the conventional process runs the risk o
f producing damage to the femur. Ultrasonic techniques have been sugge
sted to achieve these ends but removal of the cement by this approach
is not entirely easy. The alternative laser-based approach would seem
to have significant advantages over conventional techniques. The laser
is capable of delivering energy to a specific region or surface under
close control. The choice of laser is determined by its ability to ab
late the cement and the ease with which it can be delivered to the bas
e of the femur cavity. This paper examines several laser wavelengths:
CO2 (10.6 mu m), excimer (248 nm), Hol:YAG (2.12 mu m), and presents p
olymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) vaporization thresholds for each laser.