Current and future perspectives of polymethylmethacrylate bone cement in veterinary orthopaedics: A review

Abstract

Fracture of long bones have been a long term concern in the field of veterinary orthopaedics. Many implants have been used in stabilization of fractures and such implants are subjected to a variety of implant failures like implant loosening, migration resulting in malunion, non-union and delayed union. In this view various biomaterials have been identified and used in fracture treatment to enhance and accelerate bone healing via callus formation and to improve the implant stability by acting as an agent to hold the implant against the bone. Polymethylmethacrylate or PMMA bone cement is one such biomaterial used in the veterinary orthopaedics for numerous applications. The introduction of pmma bone cement in veterinary field, its preparation and delivery, presentation, application, advantages and side effects and its future perspectives are discussed here.