Monomer leakage from polymerizing acrylic bone cement. An in vitro study on the influence of speed and duration of mixing, cement volume and surface area.

An in vitro study was dthesigned to measure the effects of variable cement volumes and modified mixing techniques on the monomer leakage after simulated implantation. The cement volume as such was found to be an irrelevant parameter for calculations of the monomer loss from bone cement. The leakage was directly related to the surface area of the cement. Variations in the thickness of the cement mantle from 1 to 5 mm did not affect the leakage. Late cement insertion should reduce the total monomer leakage into the tissues. It is doubtful whether an increased stirring speed during mixing reduces the monomer leakage after implantation.