Bone Cements Utilised for the Reconstruction of Hard Tissue: Basic Understanding and Recent Topics

Various artificial bone substitutes such as hydroxyapatite, bone cement, and titanium or its alloys are used for reconstruction of hard tissues in the field of orthopaedic and oral maxillofacial surgeries. Among them, bone cement has paid much attention since it shows setting property that allows it to be injected by a syringe without incision. In the case of polymer-based cement consisting of acrylic polymer, it can be applied for fixation of metal implant or repair of vertebral fracture, which allows for prompt loading after surgery, whereas inorganic cements such as calcium phosphate, calcium sulphate, and calcium silicate are expected to bond directly to the surrounding tissues at the implanted site. This review focuses on acrylic polymer-based cement and calcium phosphate cements and also reveals a brief history, a composition, a setting mechanism, advantages and disadvantages, recent studies, and a future prospect of bone cements utilised for reconstruction of hard tissues.