POROUS TANTALUM COATED MODULAR ACETABULAR CUPS(TRITANIUM) IN REVISION ARTHROPLASTY: EARLY EXPERIENCE

Abstract

Introduction: Uncemented sockets have been used for revision with good results in the literature. Tantalum coated acetabular uncemented implant is the next generation implant. We used Tritanium (Stryker Corp. Kalamazoo, USA) for revision of acetabulum and present the early results.

Aim: To determine early results of porous tantalum coated modular acetabular cups in revision hip arthroplasty.

Patients and methods:41 acetabular revisions in 41 patients were performed using Tritanium acetabular uncemented sockets between March 2007 and March 2008. Posterior approach was used for all procedures. AAOS system for acetabular bone deficiency and Harris hip score for function was used for assessment.

Results: Mean age of the patients was 67 yrs (range 45–88). 95% of cups were fixed with screws for initial stability. AAOS classification showed there were 17 % Type 1, 49 % Type 2, 24% Type 3 and 5% Type 4 defects and 5 % had no defect. Bone graft was used to in 70% of patients, mostly autograft from the reamings. Mean Harris Hip Score improved from 68 pre-operatively to 84 at the last follow-up. Cup integration was seen in 93% patients. In two patients with pelvic discontinuity there was migration and in one loosening of the implant. One patient was treated for deep vein thrombosis and one patient for infection.

Conclusion: Early results of tantalum coated acetabular socket are encouraging, in providing adequate initial stabilisation for biologic fixation in segmental, cavitatory and combined defects. Facility to use locking screws in multiple directions may help in addressing pelvic discontinuity.