For at least a decade many publications have been pointing out the significance of mixing and cementing techniques, especially in connection with the risk of subsequent revisions as a result of aseptic loosening. The link between improved cementing technique and improved long-term results in hip endoprosthetics is regarded as certain. The elements of modern cementing technique include mixing the cement in a vacuum and cleansing the bone surface by jet lavage before introducing the cement.
Cement mixed by hand in the conventional way is porous. It contains up to 30% air. Cement mixed in a vacuum can be almost non-porous. Reduced porosity increases the cement`s strength (endurance and flectional resistance) considerably. In the medium term the risk of revision is reduced significantly. This is borne out by the Swedish prospective multi-center study of 169,419 primary implants (risk quotient 0.74 after 8 years).
In addition, vacuum mixing reduces the quantity of monomer fumes emitted to below the detection limit. It reduces to a minimum the exposure of operating room staff to monomer fumes and improves their working conditions.
Jet lavage cleansing of the bone surface prior to cementing increases the strength of the bone-cement interface and reduces blood penetration into the cement. This increases the bone cement`s mechanical strength. It also helps to prevent bone marrow embolisms and thromboses.
EASYMIX® VACUUM CEMENTING SYSTEM
The EASYMIX® vacuum cementing system is an effective yet extremely reasonably priced bone cement mixing system that is easy to use. It consists of an EASYMIX® vacuum pump, and EASYMIX® cement gun and various cartridge sets. Just a few easy moves produce an excellent mixing result. It takes only 20 seconds to mix a fully homogeneous cement mass.
The EASYMIX® pump works evenly and reliably at supply pressures in the range of 5 to10 bar. It has a return valve, so it does not have to be operated continuously, but only for 20 seconds to evacuate the mixing system. The active carbon filter, in combination with a sterile filter, has a particularly high capacity for binding monomer fumes. The closed system minimizes the emission of monomer fumes.
The EASYMIX® vacuum cementing system cuts the cement residue in the system to a minimum, and permits a more economical use of bone cement. EASYMIX® is available in one- or two-cartridge packs for up to 80 grams of bone cement powder and all disposable items required for mixing and introducing the cement in a vacuum. If cement is to be mixed without vacuum, the EASYMIX® vacuum cementing system is currently the only closed system available that almost entirely prevents the emission of monomer fumes into the surroundings.
MICROAIRE® HI SPEED HIGH PRESSURE PULSE LAVAGE
The MicroAire® Hi Speed Pulse Lavage System is a reasonably priced high pressure rinsing system for preparing the implant site in joint replacement operations. It can also be used for other purposes such as rinsing dirty or contaminated wounds in a way that is gentle on the tissue, for cleaning infected wound areas or for cooling the operation area while bone is being worked on with instruments.
In cemented endoprosthetics (hip, knee, revisions) cleaning the implant site rinses out preparation-related detritus and bone marrow. Intensive cleansing of the bone surface by high pressure pulse lavage prior to cementing increases the depth to which the bone cement penetrates into the bone, improving the interconnection of cement and bone and thus increasing the strength of the bone-cement interface.
It reduces blood penetration into the cement, thereby increasing the bone cement`s mechanical strength. In addition, intensive lavage helps to prevent fat embolisms and circulation problems. The MicroAire® Hi Speed Pulse Lavage is operated with a high pressure pulse lavage handset that is available for many different systems of compressed air supplies.
We supply an extensive range of accessories (sterile-packed disposal items), such as various nozzles, hose systems, hose and pulse lavage nozzle sets (including special ones for total endoprosthesis hip and knee operations) and splashguards. Nozzles can be changed easily during surgery.
