EFFECTS OF POLYMERIZATION HEAT AND MONOMERS FROM ACRYLIC CEMENT ON CANINE BONE

We investigated the effects of polymerization heat and toxicity of pol ymethylmetacrylate bone cement in the canine tibial diaphysis. Heat wa s studied by filling the tibias with either bone cement or bone wax co ntained in a monomer tight membrane pouch. Toxicity was studied by fil ling both tibias with cement, with the control side contained in the m embrane pouch. Bone blood perfusion was measured by microsphere techni c, and bone remodeling by Tc-99m-methylene diphosphonate uptake and by histologic technique. In bone exposed to the combination of polymeriz ation heat and monomer, both perfusion and remodeling were impaired. W e did not find any effects of polymerization heat alone. We conclude t hat hot toxic chemicals from bone cement during polymerization may inh ibit bone blood perfusion and remodeling, whereas heat alone seems to be of minor importance for the regenerative processes in cemented diap hyseal bone.