One strategy that has been suggested for reducing the operating room time for cemented total joint arthroplasties-and, hence, for reducing the total cost of these procedures-is to accelerate the polymerization of the acrylic bone cement by preheating the powder to 65 degrees C. We quantified the effect of preheating the cement powders on the fracture toughness and fatigue life of 3 cement brands that are widely used in clinical practice. The results suggest judicious selection of cements whose powders are to be preheated for use in cemented arthroplasties.