Cement-within-cement revision hip-arthroplasty; Should it be done?

The complete removal of the cement mantle at revision arthroplasty can be extremely difficult, Some authors advise a 'cement-within-cement' revision technique in which a new layer of cement is applied to the old before insertion of the femoral component, We could find no long-term clinical data regarding the success of this procedure. In a simple biomechanical study, we examined the strength of the cement-to-cement interface in conditions likely to prevail in vivo. We found that the presence of a thin layer of blood and marrow debris at the interface weakened the cement-to-cement bond by 80% to 85%. These biomechanical findings and additional photomicrographic evidence do not support the practice of cement-within-cement revision arthroplasty.