How to Fill the Void — Bone Cement in Hemiarthroplasty

A majority of persons in whom a femoral neck fracture occurs have physical impairment, cognitive impairment, or both. For these patients, a hemiarthroplasty is considered to be the most suitable treatment; bone cement may or may not be used for fixation of the prosthesis. Using an uncemented stem reduces both operating-room time and the risk of bone cement implantation syndrome, in which increased intramedullary pressure at cementation causes embolization, which may lead to hypotension and oxygen desaturation and subsequent acute cardiovascular and neuropsychological complications.¹