Material Properties: Bone Cement

Description

Mr Shiraz Sabah gives his expert insights and discusses the material properties of bone cement, clarifying that it functions more like a grout filling the space between an implant and bone, rather than a traditional glue. He highlights essential characteristics such as its strong compressive strength, which helps it resist squashing under joint forces, while also noting its weaknesses—namely, vulnerability to tension and shear forces, which can lead to cracking under stress. The cement is described as a brittle material that doesn't bend or stretch significantly before breaking, similar to chalk breaking rather than a paperclip bending. Over time, repeated loads can result in fatigue failure, causing tiny cracks to spread. Furthermore, Mr Sabah emphasizes that bone cement does not chemically bond to the bone or implant but relies on mechanical interlock, making the success of its application highly dependent on the surgical technique employed, including the elimination of pores and voids and proper pressurization.

DOI: 10.1302/3114-251248