Acrylic bone cement: in vitro and in vivo property-structure relationship--a selective review.

The nature and curing characteristics of acrylic bone cement are presented to give some basic understanding of the key to improving its performance in in vivo clinical use. The use of electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy in the (polymerization) setting and curing/aging of bone cement under in vitro and in vivo conditions is presented. The current research effort to improve the implant fixation by precoating the prosthesis with acrylic polymers is also discussed.