Flexural and fatigue properties of a bone cement based upon polyethylmethacrylate and hydroxyapatite 

 -  Journal of Materials Science: Materials in Medicine, 6(12), p.799-803, 1995 .
<br/><br/> Polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA)bone cement is commonly used in surgery to fix joint replacements into the bone. Although the operations are generally successful, loosening of the prosthesis does occur with fracture of the bone cement treated as the source of failure in some instances. Polyethylmethacrylate (PEMA)bone cement offers a promising alternative to PMMA due to its high ductility, low toxicity and low exotherm. In addition, hydroxyapatite (HA)particles can be added, while retaining the ductile properties of the material. In this study, the flexural and fatigue properties of this experimental cement, with and without HA reinforcement, have been examined. It was found that up to 40wt.