Cemented hips are the most popular options in old people - the Charnley hip has now been in use for 25 years and is a standard by which other hips are judged.
The cement itself is a polymerising grouting agent, the reaction of polymerisation generating heat which kills 1 to 5 mm of bone. During the reaction monomers are released and there have been reports that listening to the lungs during the cementing of a hip reveals crackles secondary to this phenomenon. Other risks are of emboli and of myocardial infarction.
The principal advantage of this type of hip replacement is that it may be used for weight bearing within days of the operation - thus risk factors associated with bed rest in the elderly are reduced. It's also the best option for someone in whom it is doubtful that the concept of avoidance of weight bearing will have a strong impact.
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