Bone cement: perioperative issues, orthopaedic applications and future developments.

Bone cement has been increasingly used in orthopaedic surgery over the last 50 years. Since Sir John Charnley pioneered the use of polymethylmethacrylate cement in total hip replacements, there have been developments in cementing techniques and an expansion in the number of orthopaedic procedures that use cement. This review covers the perioperative issues surrounding bone cement including storage, cementing techniques and complications. It also discusses specific orthopaedic applications of bone cement and future developments.