Abstract
Introduction
In the case of bipolar hemiarthroplasty, surgeons are often faced with only migration of outer head and severe osteolysis in acetabulum without loosening of femoral component. There has been much debate regarding the merits of removing or retaining stable femoral components in such cases. The purpose of this study was to determine whether revision of an isolated acetabular component without the removal of a well-fixed femoral component [Fig. 1] could be successfully performed.
Materials and methods
Thirty-four hips of 33 patients who were followed up for a minimum of 1 year were examined. There were 29 women and 4 men. The average time from primary operation to revision surgery was 12.5 years (range, 0.0 to 17.9 years), and the average follow-up time after revision was 5 years (range, 1.1 to 15.2 years). The average age of the patients at the time of the index revision was sixty-four years (range, thirty-two to seventy-eight years). The reason for acetabular revision was migration of outer head in twenty-eight hips, disassembly of bipolar cup in four hips and recurrent dislocation in two hips. Of the thirty-four femoral components, twenty-seven were cementless and seven were cemented. In nine hips, we performed bone grafting to osteolysis of the proximal femur around the stem. Acetabular components were revised to an acetabular reinforcement ring with a cemented cup in 26 hips, to cementless acetabular components in 8 hips, and to cemented cup in 1 hip.
Results
The average Japan Orthopaedic Association hip score improved from 50.7 to 86.1 points after revision surgery. One femoral component (3%) was revised because of periprosthetic fracture, three years after the index acetabular revision and eighteen years after the initial bipolar hemiarthroplasty. Radiographic evaluation of the thirty-three femoral components that were not revised demonstrated no evidence of loosening or subsidence. There were no dislocation or deep infection. Thirty-three (97%) of the acetabular components were judged to be stable at the final follow-up. A nonprogressive radiolucent line of less than 2 mm was observed in one case.
Conclusion
We recommend that isolated acetabular revision be considered in cases of failed bipolar hemiarthroplasty with a well-fixed femoral component.
