Viability and osteogenicity of bone graft coated with methylmethacrylate cement.

The idea of utilizing bone grafts during hip arthroplasty has been discussed in the literature and clinical successes have been indicated. These communications, however, did not relate to long-term results. Thus, to date, we still lack sufficient understanding as to the fate of bone grafts when they are coated with methylmethacrylate. In order to elucidate the above issue further an experimental study has recently been initiated in an attempt to provide answers to the following questions: a) do bone grafts remain viable when they are held in place with methylmethacrylate bone cement? and b) do such grafts retain their osteogenic potential? In the present study osteotomies were made in the femora of dogs and cortico-cancellous strips of autogenous bone were placed around the osteotomy site. The grafts were then surrounded by polymethylmethacrylate bone cement. Mechanical examination and morphological studies, performed 3, 6 and 10 months following surgery, revealed the elaboration of fibro-osseous union. Our present findings tend to indicate that bone grafts, even if they are covered with methylmethacrylate bone cement, still retain their viability as well as their osteogenic potential.