Acetabular cement temperature in arthroplasty

In 19 patients who underwent total hip arthroplasty the temperature was studied at the bone-cement interface in the acetabulum during the polymethyl methacrylate curing process. To evaluate the effect of fluid cooling, the patients were randomized into two groups: one group with no irrigation, the other with continuous irrigation with Ringer solution during cement curing. The temperature was recorded with a thermocouple at the bone-cement interface. Without water cooling, the median maximum temperature was 49 (41-67) degrees C. In 9 out of 11 patients the temperature elevations were sufficient to cause impaired bone regeneration or thermal necrosis of bone. Continuous water irrigation reduced the amount of heat at the bone-cement interface; median maximum temperature was 41 (37-48) degrees C.