Development of a Resorbable Calcium Phosphate Cement with Load Bearing Capacity

Compared to cortical bone and polymeric bone cements, the mechanical properties of calcium phosphate cements are generally poor. This has resulted in them being used in non-load bearing clinical applications. The aim of this study was to investigate the possibility of producing a brushite cement with mechanical properties closer to those of cortical bone (i.e., >100 MPa in compression), i.e. with a potential to be used in load bearing applications. With a compressive strength of 74.4 (± 10.7) MPa, maximum at 91.8 MPa, the cement presented herein is comparable with the non degradable polymeric counterparts and the strongest hydroxyapatite cements, and is close in strength of cortical bone. Furthermore, it has a high injectability (>90%) and a setting time of approximately 17 minutes. A cement comprising these properties has great potential of changing the future clinical indications for calcium phosphate cements, and could potentially reduce the use of non-degradable polymeric cements.