a method of attaching prosthetic implants to bone , applicable to tibia , patella , acetabulum , glenoid , or femur , includes trimming an articular surface of the bone , leaving a trimmed surface . holes are punched or drilled into the surface in a predetermined array before polymethyl methacrylate bone cement is used to attach the surface to the implant . in an embodiment , the holes are punched by placing a punch - plate with sharpened punch spikes on the surface , and striking the punch plate to drive punches into the trimmed surface . in another embodiment , holes are drilled using a drilling template with predrilled guidance holes placed on the surface of the bone . in another embodiment , holes are drilled by positioning a robotic drill over the trimmed surface ; adjusting a drilling pattern of the robotic drill according to the trimmed surface ; and using the robotic drill to drill holes of predetermined depth according to the drilling pattern .