MICROSTRUCTURAL INVESTIGATION OF BONE-CEMENT INTERFACE

We evaluated the microstructural characteristics of newly formed bone tissue at the interface with cement. The bone-cement interfaces of the femoral components of nine hip prostheses retrieved after loosening w ere investigated by means of X-ray diffraction on microareas and micro hardness. The bone far from the interface bf two stable prostheses was used as a control. The newly formed bone adjacent to cement in the lo osened prostheses showed a maturity degree lower than that of bone adj acent to cement in stable prostheses. The lattice parameters of bone a patite did not show significant variations as compared to the referenc e values. Bone trabeculae at the interface with loosened prostheses of ten showed an osteoid lining characterized by a strongly demineralized lamellar and haversian structure. Radioopaque cement particles are so metimes found in the trabecular bone tissue around the prosthesis. (C) 1995 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.