Cementing endoprostheses is one of the most frequently performed orthopedic procedures in the world today. PMMA cements are used to anchor artificial joints. They fill up the free space between the prosthesis and bone and constitute a very important elastic zone. Owing to their optimal rigidity the cement can evenly buffer the forces acting against the bone. Although the bone cement which are currently commercially available are all based on the same chemical substance (methyl methacrylate = MMA), their physical and chemical properties differ. The completely revised second addition of the...

Methyl methacrylate (MMA) is the basic component of bone cements. To use it, a dough is prepared from the liquid and powder by mixing right before application, which is normally done by the operating team. During its working phase the dough is then inserted into the tissue where polymerization is completed. Thus, the final implant polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) is only created at the implantation site. Besides methyl methacrylate, bone cements sometimes contain other methacrylates, such as butyl methacrylate. To achieve X-ray opacity, radiopacifiers (zirconium dioxide or barium sulfate) are...