Inter- and intra-batch variability in the handling characteristics and viscosity of commonly used antibiotic-loaded bone cements

Figures & data

Figure 1. Gelnorm-Med Rheometer

Table 1.  Handling phases

	Temp (°C)	n	Mixing time (s)	Waiting phase(s)		Working phase(s)		Setting phase (s)		Final setting time (s)
				Mean	95% CI	Mean	95% CI	Mean	95% CI	Mean	95% CI
SPT 1	19	3	30	122	56–180	297	264–325	148	130–164	597	579–612
SPT 2	19	3	30	125	100–147	312	297–327	182	167–194	648	625–669
SPT 3	19	3	30	102	90–112	322	302–339	152	129–172	605	590–618
SSG 1	19	3	30	57	40–71	260	249–270	200	180–218	547	518–572
SSC 2	19	3	30	48	34–61	230	210–247	213	192–232	522	504–537
SSC 3	19	3	30	48	45–51	263	245–279	195	178–210	537	528–544
RBC 1	19	3	30	20	20–20	283	263–301	237	203–267	570	555–583
RBC 2	19	3	30	28	22–34	265	255–274	228	220–236	552	543–559
RBC 3	19	3	30	18	15–21	308	297–319	210	190–228	567	560–572
PRG 1	19	3	30	42	23–58	352	333–368	170	140–196	593	585–601
PRG 2	19	3	30	43	15–68	345	296–388	175	130–215	593	564–619
PRG 3	19	3	30	48	31–64	322	305–336	193	182–204	593	585–601
SSG 1	24	3	30	33	27–39	250	220–276	190	175–203	503	495–511
SSC 2	24	3	30	33	30–36	272	248–292	208	185–229	543	498–583
SSC 3	24	3	30	35	20–48	280	246–310	197	180–211	542	508–572
RBC 1	24	3	30	30	24–35	333	315–349	182	162–199	575	569–580
RBC 2	24	3	30	33	25–41	328	296–357	162	118–201	553	527–577
RBC 3	24	3	30	48	37–59	340	312–365	168	157–179	587	569–602
PRG 1	24	3	30	20	20–20	333	282–378	188	157–216	572	544–596
PRG 2	24	3	30	18	15–21	345	328–360	168	137–196	562	547–574
PRG 3	24	3	30	17	13–20	348	317–376	165	145–183	560	532–585

Figure 2. Handling phases for Simplex P Tobra (n = 3 × 3 = 9).

Figure 3. Handling phases for Palacos R + G (n = 3 × 3 × 2 = 18).

Figure 4. Handling phases for Refobacin Bone Cement (n = 3 × 3 × 2 = 18).

Figure 5. Handling phases for SmartSet GHV (n = 3 × 3 × 2 = 18).

Figure 6. Median viscosity curve from each cement (n = 68).

Figure 7. Viscosity of Simplex P Tobra (n = 17).

Figure 8. Viscosity of Palacos R + G (n = 18).

Figure 9. Viscosity of Refobacin Bone Cement (n = 16).

Figure 10. Viscosity of SmartSet GHV (n = 17).

Figure 11. Time (s) to reach 5 N in all batches (n = 68).

Figure 12. Time (s) to reach 40 N in all batches (n = 68).

Table 2.  Cement viscosity

Batch	Temp (°C)	n	Time to reach 5 N (s)		ANOVA	Time to reach 40 N (s)		ANOVA
			Mean	95% CI	P-value	Mean	95% CI	P-value
PRG 1	4	6	461	418–503	0.9	643	612–675	0.8
PRG 2		6	471	435–507		662	615–709
PRG 3		6	468	440–495		642	586–697
RBC 1	4	5	462	435–489	0.009	575	566–584	0.03
RBC 2		6	428	405–450		595	566–634
RBC 3		5	403	393–413		640	600–680
SSG 1	4	6	391	365–417	0.7	610	579–641	0.9
SSG2		6	398	379–417		614	583–646
SSG3		5	385	372–398		620	598–642
SPT 1	23	6	375	351–399	0.22	427	418–436	0.2
SPT 2		5	359	352–366		427	418–436
SPT 3		6	354	339–368		407	400–414