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The pulsed water jet for selective removal of bone cement during revision arthroplasty
Publikationstyp
Journal Article
Date Issued
2003
Sprache
German
Author(s)
Rentzsch, Reemt
Dierk, Oliver
Pude, Frank
Louis, Hartmut
Volume
48
Issue
10
Start Page
275
End Page
280
Citation
Biomedizinische Technik (Biomedical engineering) 48 (10): 275-280 (2003)
Publisher DOI
Scopus ID
Publisher
de Gruyter
Conventional tools used in prosthetic revision surgery have a limited range of action within the narrow cement mantle. Water jet cutting technology permits tiny and precisely controlled cuts, and may therefore be an alternative method of bone cement removal. Our study compares the cutting performance on bone cement (PMMA) and bone of a pulsed water jet and a continuous water jet. The aim of the study was to establish whether selective removal of PMMA is possible. 55 bone specimens (bovine femora) and 32 specimens of PMMA were cut with a continuous and a pulsed water jet at different pressures (40MPa, 60 MPa) and pulse frequencies (0Hz, 50Hz, 250Hz). To ensure comparability of the results, the depths of cut were related to the hydraulic power of that part of the jet actually impinging on the material. While for PMMA the power-related depth of cut increased significantly with the pulse frequency, this did not apply to bone. The cuts produced in bone were sharp-edged. Since PMMA is more brittle than bone, the water jet caused cracks that enlarged further until particles of bone broke away. Although selective removal of PMMA without doing damage to the bone was not possible at the investigated settings of the jet parameters, the results do show that a pulsed water jet can cut bone cement much more effectively than bone. This is an important advantage over conventional non-selective tools for the removal of bone cement.
Subjects
Bone
Bone cement
Endoprosthesis
Revision surgery
Water jet
DDC Class
610: Medicine, Health