Decreased blood perfusion in canine tibial diaphysis after filling with acrylic bone cement compared with inert bone wax

Sixteen dogs had one tibia filled with acrylic PMMA bone cement and the opposite, control tibia filled with inert bone wax. After 1, 4, and 12 weeks, the blood perfusion in diaphyses was measured with Sc-46 labeled microspheres. The blood flow rates increased from 1 to 4 weeks and dropped to about the 1-week level after 12 weeks on both sides, with the acrylic side lower than the control side. On both sides, Disulphine Blue staining of the bones showed severe endosteal avascularity after 1 and 4 weeks and massive periosteal apposition after 4 and 12 weeks. The initial increase in blood flow is considered due to periosteal apposition, and the differences in blood flow rates are attributed to avascularity caused by the polymerization heat and toxicity of the acrylic cement.