ABSTRACT
The concept of “cementing” fractures became a reality with the
development of polymethylmethacrylate bone cement in the
1960s (1). Schmalholz in 1988 described the use of polymethyl-
methacrylate in the management of distal radius fractures (2).
This approach has been further supported by several other
investigators (3-5). By the same token, problems with poly-
methylmethacrylate have limited its application. These
difficulties include its curing with an exothermic reaction, its
inability to be incorporated with the host bone, and its require-
ment for wide exposure of the fracture site.
