The bone-cement interface in hip arthroplasty. A histologic and enzyme study of stable components.

Thirteen patients were reoperated on because of a nonseptic complication of their cemented hip replacement. In each patient, one of the two components was stable, and biopsies from this bone-cement interface were obtained for histologic and enzyme histochemical studies. Microscopy revealed a spectrum of tissue reactions, ranging from a seemingly direct bone-cement contact to a fibrous membrane, up to 1.5 mm thick. The bone necrosis incurred at the primary operation had been largely resorbed and replaced by viable bone.