CUSTOM-MADE MOLDS THAT PREVENT CEMENT EXTRUSION THROUGH BONE DEFECTS

The success of a hip arthroplasty using a cemented femoral component relies in part on the quality of the cement technique, and is enhanced by obtaining a uniform, well-pressurized cement mantle around the prosthesis. For that reason, cortical bone defects in the femur pose technical difficulties for the surgeon planning a cemented femoral component. In this article, a new technique is presented that is used to prevent cement extrusion through defects in the femoral cortex when pressurizing the cement mantle around the prosthesis. Custom-molded polymethylmethacrylate (bone cement) plugs may be fashioned during operation to fill temporarily defects of almost any size.