Modification of Mechanical Properties, Polymerization Temperature, and Handling Time of Polymethylmethacrylate Cement for Enhancing Applicability in Vertebroplasty.

Ching-Lung Tai,Lih-Huei Chen,Po-Liang Lai,Tsung-Tin Tsai,Wei-De Lin,Mu-Yi Liu,Yen-Chen Lee

doi:10.1155/2016/7901562

Ching-Lung Tai, Lih-Huei Chen + Show 5 more

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https://doi.org/10.1155/2016/7901562

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Abstract

Polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) bone cement is a popular bone void filler for vertebroplasty. However, the use of PMMA has some drawbacks, including the material's excessive stiffness, exothermic polymerization, and short handling time. This study aimed to create an ideal modified bone cement to solve the above-mentioned problems. Modified bone cements were prepared by combining PMMA with three different volume fractions of castor oil (5%, 10%, and 15%). The peak polymerization temperatures, times to achieve the peak polymerization temperature, porosities, densities, modulus and maximum compression strengths of standard (without castor oil), and modified cements were investigated following storage at ambient temperature (22°C) or under precooling conditions (3°C). Six specimens were tested in each group of the aforementioned parameters. Increasing castor oil content and precooling treatment effectively decreased the peak polymerization temperatures and increased the duration to achieve the peak polymerization temperature (P < 0.05). Furthermore, the mechanical properties of the material, including density, modulus, and maximum compression strength, decreased with increasing castor oil content. However, preparation temperature (room temperature versus precooling) had no significant effect (P > 0.05) on these mechanical properties. In conclusion, the addition of castor oil to PMMA followed by precooling created an ideal modified bone cement with a low modulus, low polymerization temperature, and long handling time, enhancing its applicability and safety for vertebroplasty.

Highlights

IntroductionIn the US, the prevalence of osteoporosis is 10.3% in adults 50 years and older; women in the same age group have a higher prevalence at 15.4% [1]
The average maximum polymerization temperatures (Tmax) and handling times (HT) for the samples with various contents of castor oil in the normal temperature group (NTG) and the precooling group (PCG) are shown in Figures 4 and 5
The results showed that the maximum polymerization temperature decreased with increasing castor oil content (Figure 4)

Summary

Introduction

In the US, the prevalence of osteoporosis is 10.3% in adults 50 years and older; women in the same age group have a higher prevalence at 15.4% [1]. The rate of compression fractures is 20% in people 70 years and older and 16% in postmenopausal women [2]. A study by Johnell and Kanis found that osteoporosis causes more than 8.9 million fractures each year and that osteoporotic fractures occur every 3 seconds [3]. It is very important to determine how to treat and prevent osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures. Vertebroplasty is suggested to treat vertebral compression fractures to increase the rigidity, supporting force and recovery height of the collapsed spinal vertebrae

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