Bone Cement for Orthopaedic Exams

Description

The text is a verbatim transcription of a viva (oral) examination session focused on the topic of bone cement in orthopedics. The dialogue involves two primary speakers: an examiner (Firas) and a candidate (Arthur), discussing various aspects of bone cement, including its definition, properties, clinical indications, composition, chemical reactions, and complications associated with its use. The structure follows a question-and-answer format, allowing Arthur to systematically address common questions likely to be encountered in an examination setting.



Key points discussed include:

- Definition of bone cement, emphasizing its role as a composite synthetic material used in trauma and orthopedics, primarily based on PMMA (polymethyl methacrylate).

- Mechanical properties of bone cement, highlighting its viscoelastic nature, tensile, shear, and compressive strengths, and the importance of understanding its biomechanical properties.

- Different clinical applications for bone cement, such as void filling, fixation of implants, and treatment of infections.

- Composition details detailing liquid monomers and powdered polymers, along with their respective ingredients and functions, including the importance of antibiotic additions for infection control.

- Stages of cement setting in clinical practice, which consist of mixing, doughy phase, working time, and hardening time.

- Discussion of the complications arising from cement use, including bone cement implantation syndrome and thermal necrosis.

- The session concludes with a query about the choice of cement, encouraging the candidate to provide evidence-based justifications for their choices in clinical practice.

Specialties