The effects of orthopaedic cements on osteoblastic cells cultured in vitro.

The authors have examined the response of osteoblastic cells in contact in vitro with different acrylic cements used in orthopaedic surgery. The solid and liquid components of the cements were mixed in sterile environments according to the instructions provided by the manufacturers, and placed in contact with the cells 1/2, 1, 4, 6 and 24 hours after triggering of polymerization. The experimental model, that tends to define the kinetics of the release of toxic substances from acrylic cements, allowed to verify 24 hours after polymerization that the three cements had lost their toxic effects, which instead had been present to varying degrees for the first 1-6 hours. Cytomorphological observations did not reveal cellular damage, which instead was very clear when functional tests were used.