Cemented Polarstem is made up of what material?

Cemented Polarstem is made up of what material?

• A. Titanium
• B. Stainless Steel
• C. Cobalt Chrome
• D. Aluminum

Answer: (B)

The material used for a cemented stem must bond well with bone cement and withstand repetitive loads in the body. Stainless steel fits this role well. It provides good compatibility with polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) bone cement, enough strength and toughness to handle cyclic loads, and is radiopaque for imaging. It’s also cost-effective and readily manufactured in the precise shapes needed for stems. Other materials aren’t as well suited for this specific use in cemented stems: titanium alloys are excellent in many implants but cementing them historically poses more challenges and cost considerations; cobalt-chromium is typically reserved for bearing surfaces due to its very high hardness, while aluminum alloys lack the necessary strength and long-term durability for a load-bearing stem.

The material used for a cemented stem must bond well with bone cement and withstand repetitive loads in the body. Stainless steel fits this role well. It provides good compatibility with polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) bone cement, enough strength and toughness to handle cyclic loads, and is radiopaque for imaging. It’s also cost-effective and readily manufactured in the precise shapes needed for stems.

Other materials aren’t as well suited for this specific use in cemented stems: titanium alloys are excellent in many implants but cementing them historically poses more challenges and cost considerations; cobalt-chromium is typically reserved for bearing surfaces due to its very high hardness, while aluminum alloys lack the necessary strength and long-term durability for a load-bearing stem.