Mechanical effects of intramedullary acrylic cement on fracture healing in rats.

In one group of rats, the medullary cavity was reamed and bone cement was injected. In a control group, only reaming was performed. A closed fracture was then produced in the middle of the femur. At 40,60 and 90 days following operation the torsional moment, the elastic stiffness, the volume and the density of the callus tissue were evaluated. No differences were found between the two groups. It is concluded that acrylic bone cement in the medullary cavity does not impair the healing of non-immobilized fractures in young rats.