Bone cement is a material used in orthopedic surgery to bridge gaps between prosthetic implants and surrounding bone. It is generally utilised in joint replacement procedures, such as hip and knee replacements, to lock the implant in place and give stability.
Bone cement is normally composed of a powdered polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) and a liquid monomer, most often methyl methacrylate (MMA). When these two components are united, a chemical reaction known as polymerization occurs, causing the mixture to harden into a solid cement-like substance.