Some Properties of Polymethylmethacrylate with Reference to Its Use in Orthopedic Surgery

Authors:
  • RLR. S. M. Ling
    R. S. M. Ling
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Abstract
This paper reports an investigation of the effects that variations in the methods of preparing polymethymethacrylatc bone cement have on its mechanical properties and on the loss of monomer from the cement by evaporation. The monomer is cytotoxic4; it also produces cardiovascular effects when injected intravenously into dogs3, 5 and may also do so when absorbed from the cement surfaces in vivo, though this is by no means certain at the present time. Emphasis has therefore been laid upon the importance of encouraging monomer loss by evaporation during the preparation of the cement,1 though to date no relative quantitative data have been published.