Dimensional Studies of Orthopedic Bone Cement in Spurr and Acrylic Embedding Media

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Abstract
The objective of this study was to evaluate dimensional changes of orthopedic bone cement used in conjunction with Spurr and acrylic embedding technique. Prepolymerized cement was machined into blocks of three sizes. These were measured with a dial caliper prior to embedment. The embedding techniques of Bloebaum et al (1979) with Spurr medium and of Rhinelander (1979) with butyl/methyl methacrylate were compared. To minimize the possibility of technique error, the laboratory staff of each of these investigators performed the actual embedding of specimens. Once embedding was completed, the specimens were returned to our laboratories and ground to remove excess embedding media, then measured with an optical comparator. All of the buty/methyl methacrylate specimens, regardless of size, had expanded 1 mm. The Spurr specimens, however, had no measurable dimensional changes. Although both embedding techniques exhibited similar visual variations, including lucent margins, a columnar orientation of the cement matrix in these lucent margins, and scalloping of the edges, the butyl/metyl methacrylate specimens exhibited crazing and a greater degree of morphological variation than that observed in Spurr specimens. Thus, when bone cement integrity is of importance, Spurr medium appears to be the embedding material of choice for minimal histological preparation artifacts.

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