Carbon fiber-reinforced bone cement in orthopedic surgery.

A tougher, more fatigue-resistant bone cement consisting of short, highmodulus carbon fibers dispersed randomly in normal ply(methyl methacrylate) bone cement has been developed. Fatigue and impact tests are reported that demonstrate the superior fracture resistance and prolonged load-carrying ability of this system. The use of this carbon fiber-reinforced bone cement in the treatment of a pathological fracture of the femur associated with neoplastic disease of the bone is reported. The tougher cement has provided long-term stability of the fracture.