[Autoradiographic determinations of carbon-14-labeled monomers and residual monomers in the tissues of Wistar rats after implantation of cold-polymerizing polymethyl methacrylate (bone cement) (author's transl)].

Self-setting acrylics, named bone cement, are taken for the reconstruction of bone defects, for the fixation of endothesis and fractures. A disadvantage of these rapid-cure acrylic compounds is the toxicity of its monomer. Infraredspectrographic measurements showed an absolute content of 12,3 per cent monomer in an acrylic-resin-compound-implant. In order to perseive the incorporation of the diffused monomer after implantation of bone cement in rats, the monomer were marked with 14C (radioactive carbon). The autoradiographic examination revealed the excretion of the marked monomer in the urine and an accumulation in kidney, liver and lungs. The results were demonstrated.