THE EFFECT OF IRRIGATING SOLUTIONS ON THE STRENGTH OF THE CEMENT BONEINTERFACE

Irrigating solutions are commonly used in the preparation of bony surf aces before total joint replacement components are cemented. Using an experimental cemented arthroplasty model, metal pseudoprostheses were cemented to a cadaveric bone surface prepared with a specific irrigati ng solution. A tension load was then applied to the prosthesis until f ailure occurred at the cement-bone interface. A quantitative analysis of the effect of three commonly used irrigating solutions on the stren gth of the cement-bone interface is presented. Sixty trials were perfo rmed with normal saline, povidone iodine and hydrogen peroxide. Irriga tion with hydrogen peroxide afforded statistically superior cement fix ation in this arthroplasty model when compared with either normal sali ne or povidone iodine (P < 0.01 Chi-squared test).