Abrasive water jet cutting as a new procedure for cutting cancellous bone--in vitro testing in comparison with the oscillating saw.

The quality of bone cuts is assessed by the accuracy and biological potency of the cut surfaces. Conventional tools (such as saws and milling machines) can cause thermal damage to bone tissue. Water jet cutting is nonthermal; that is, it does not generate heat.

The water jet as a new tool for endoprosthesis revision surgery--an in vitro study on human bone and bone cement.

In revision surgeries of endoprostheses, the interface between implant and bone cement or bone must be loosened. Conventional tools have many disadvantages because of their size and limited range. Taking advantage of the selective and athermic cutting process, a plain water jet is already used in order to cut soft tissues.

[The pulsed water jet for selective removal of bone cement during revision arthroplasty].

Conventional tools used in prosthetic revision surgery have a limited range of action within the narrow cement mantle. Water jet cutting technology permits tiny and precisely controlled cuts, and may therefore be an alternative method of bone cement removal. Our study compares the cutting performance on bone cement (PMMA) and bone of a pulsed water jet and a continuous water jet.